On $T\bar{T}$ deformations and supersymmetry

Abstract

We investigate the "$T\bar{T}$" deformations of two-dimensional supersymmetric quantum field theories. More precisely, we show that, by using the conservation equations for the supercurrent multiplet, the $T\bar{T}$ deforming operator can be constructed as a supersymmetric descendant. Here we focus on $\mathcal{N}=(1,0)$ and $\mathcal{N}=(1,1)$ supersymmetry. As an example, we analyse in detail the $T\bar{T}$ deformation of a free $\mathcal{N}=(1,0)$ supersymmetric action. We also argue that the link between $T\bar{T}$ and string theory can be extended to superstrings: by analysing the light-cone gauge fixing for superstrings in flat space, we show the correspondence of the string action to the $T\bar{T}$ deformation of a free theory of eight $\mathcal{N}=(1,1)$ scalar multiplets on the nose. We comment on how these constructions relate to the geometrical interpretations of $T\bar{T}$ deformations that have recently been discussed in the literature.