Higher spins from non-linear realizations of OSp(1 vertical bar 8)

摘要

We exhibit surprising relations between higher spin theory and non-linear realizations of the supergroup OSp(1 vertical bar 8), a minimal superconformal extension of N = 1, 4D supersymmetry with tensorial charges. We construct a realization of OSp(1 vertical bar 8) on the coset supermanifold OSp(1 vertical bar 8)1SL(4, R) which involves the tensorial superspace R-(10 vertical bar 4) and Goldstone superfields given on it. The covariant superfield equation encompassing the component ones for all integer and half-integer massless higher spins amounts to the vanishing of covariant spinor derivatives of the suitable Goldstone superfields, and, via Maurer-Cartan equations, to the vanishing of SL(4, R) supercurvature in odd directions of R-(10 vertical bar 4). Aiming at higher spin extension of the Ogievetsky-Sokatchev formulation of N = 1 supergravity, we generalize the notion of N = 1 chirality and construct first examples of invariant superfield actions involving a non-trivial interaction. Some other potential implications of OSp(1 vertical bar 8) in the proposed setting are briefly outlined. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.