Casimir operators of $4D\,, \mathcal{N}=2$ supersymmetry in the harmonic approach

Abstract

We construct Casimir operators of $4D, \,\mathcal{N}=2$ supersymmetry algebra in the harmonic superspace approach, and provide the explicit expressions for them in terms of covariant derivatives in the analytic basis. Specifically, the superisospin operator $C_I$ is expressed in terms of new 'long' harmonic derivatives $\nabla^{\pm\pm}, \nabla^0$ as $C_I = \frac{1}{4}\left(\nabla^0\right)^2 + \frac{1}{2}\left\{\nabla^{++},\nabla^{--}\right\}$. These derivatives involve non-local terms with the inverse Box operator $\Box^{-1}$ and satisfy modified $SU(2)$ algebra relations in which the eigenvalues of $\nabla^0$ on analytic superfields are shifted by -2 relative to the standard $U(1)$ harmonic charges. We also construct $\mathcal{N}=2$ superhelicity and super-isohelicity operators relevant to the massless case (with vanishing $\Box$) and find their eigenvalues for few instructive examples of $4D, \,\mathcal{N}=2$ superfield theories.