Basic ingredients

Abstract

We give an introduction to the book, discussing the role of the N= 2 theories, its geometric structure, and the superconformal tensor calculus. We also refer to other treatments. We then set out the plan of the book. In the second part of the chapter we introduce tools that are useful for the construction of superconformal gauge theory and multiplets. We first discuss the catalogue of supersymmetric theories with 8 supercharges (Sect. 1.2) and their multiplets (Sect. 1.2.1). After a short Sect. 1.2.2 with the strategy, we discuss the conformal (Sect. 1.2.3) and then superconformal (Sect. 1.2.4) groups. The transformations of the fields under the conformal symmetry are also given in Sect. 1.2.3, while for the fermionic symmetries, this is discussed in a short Sect. 1.2.5.