Abstract. Higher-derivative terms in the string and M-theory effective actions are strongly constrained by supersymmetry. Using a mixture of techniques, involving both string-amplitude calculations and an analysis of supersymmetry requirements, we determine the supersymmetric completion of the R⁴ action in 11 dimensions to second order in the fermions, in a form compact enough for explicit further calculations. Using these results, we obtain the modifications to the field transformation rules and determine the resulting field-dependent modifications to the coefficients in the supersymmetry algebra. We then make the link to the superspace formulation of the theory and discuss the mechanism by which higher-derivative interactions lead to modifications to the supertorsion constraints. For the particular interactions under discussion we find that no such modifications are induced.

PACS numbers: 1125, 1130P

Print publication: Issue 5 (7 March 2001)
Received 14 November 2000