Pure spinors in classical and quantum supergravity

Book chapter, 2024

This is an overview of the method of pure spinor superfields, written for Handbook of Quantum Gravity, eds. C. Bambi, L. Modesto, and I. Shapiro. The main focus is on the use of the formalism in maximal supergravity on a flat background. The basics of pure spinor superfields, and their relation to standard superspace, are reviewed. The pure spinor superstring model of Berkovits is briefly discussed. Consequences for divergence properties of loop diagrams in maximal supergravity are restated. Some final remarks are made concerning desirable development of the theoretical framework.