09.10.2023 (Monday)

LonTI lectures: Supergravity a la Fin de Siecle

Regular Seminar Neil Lambert (KCL)

at:
10:30 Other
room LIMS
abstract:

In these lectures we will provide a basic introduction to Supergravity as it arises in String Theory and M-Theory. We will start by introducing vielbeins and spin connections in order to construct supergravity actions. In the second lecture we will briefly introduce the maximal supergravity theories in ten and eleven-dimensions. We will briefly discuss special holonomy manifolds, explicitly construct BPS p-brane solutions and prove their non-perturbative stability. Time permitting we will discuss toroidal compactifications and U-duality. I will assume basic MSc level material (Riemannian geometry, fermions and rigid supersymmetry). The lecture notes that will be provided are largely self-contained but the text book “Supergravity” by Freedman and van Proeyen contains more details.