Supergravity, together with string theory, is one of the most significant developments in theoretical physics. Written by two of the most respected workers in the field, this is the first-ever authoritative and systematic account of supergravity. The book starts by reviewing aspects of relativistic field theory in Minkowski spacetime. After introducing the relevant ingredients of differential geometry and gravity, some basic supergravity theories (D=4 and D=11) and the main gauge theory tools are explained. In the second half of the book, complex geometry and N=1 and N=2 supergravity theories are covered. Classical solutions and a chapter on AdS/CFT complete the book. Numerous exercises and examples make it ideal for Ph.D. students, and with applications to model building, cosmology and solutions of supergravity theories, it is also invaluable to researchers. A website hosted by the authors, featuring solutions to some exercises and additional reading material, can be found at www.cambridge.org/supergravity.

Table of Contents

PART I: RELATIVISTIC FIELD THEORY IN MINKOWSKI SPACETIME

1: Scalar field theory and its symmetries

2: The Dirac field

3: Clifford algebras and spinors

4: The Maxwell and Yang-Mills gauge fields

5: The free Rarita-Schwinger field

6: N = 1 global supersymmetry in D = 4

PART II: DIFFERENTIAL GEOMETRY AND GRAVITY

7: Differential geometry

8: The first and second order formulations of general relativity

PART Ill: BASIC SUPERGRAVITY

9: N = 1 pure supergravity in four dimensions

1 0: D = 11 supergravity

11: General gauge theory

12: Survey of supergravities

PART IV: COMPLEX GEOMETRY AND GLOBAL SUSY

13: Complex manifolds

14: General actions with N = 1 supersymmetry

PART V: SUPERCONFORMAL CONSTRUCTION OF SUPERGRAVITY THEORIES

15: Gravity as a conformal gauge theory

16: The conformal approach to pure N = 1 supergravity

17: Construction of the matter-coupled N = 1 supergravity

18: The physical N = 1 matter-coupled supergravity

19: Applications of N = 1 supergravity

PART VII: EXTENDED N = 2 SUPERGRAVITY

20: Construction of the matter-coupled N = 2 supergravity

21: The physical N = 2 matter-coupled supergravity

PART VIII: CLASSICAL SOLUTIONS AND THE AdS/CFT CORRESPONDENCE

22: Classical solutions of gravity and supergravity

23: The AdS/CFT correspondence

About the Authors

Daniel Z. Freedman is Professor of Applied Mathematics and Physics at MIT. He has made many research contributions to supersymmetry and supergravity: he was a co-discoverer of the first supergravity theory in 1976. This discovery has been recognized by the award of the Dirac Medal and Prize in 1993 and the Dannie Heineman Prize of the American Physical Society in 2006.

Antoine Van Proeyen is Head of the Theoretical Physics Section at the K.U. Leuven, Belgium. Since 1979, he has been involved in the construction of various supergravity theories, the resulting special geometries and their applications to phenomenology and cosmology.