Classical AdS superstring mechanics

We analyze the anti-de Sitter (AdS) superparticle and superstring systems d escribed in terms of supermatrix valued coordinates proposed by Roiban and Siegel. This approach gives simple symmetry transformations and equations o f motion. We examine their kappa -transformations, infinite reducibility an d kappa -gauge fixing conditions. A closed first class constraint set for t he AdS superparticle is GL(4/4) covariant and keeping superconformal symmet ry manifestly. For the AdS superstring sigma -dependence breaks the GL(4/4) covariance, where supercovariant derivatives and currents satisfy an inhom ogeneous GL(4/4). A closed first class constraint set for the AdS superstri ng turns out to be the same as the one for a superstring in flat space, nam ely ABCD constraints. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.