Noether superpotentials in supergravities

Straightforward application of the standard Noether method in supergravity theories yields an incorrect superpotential for local supersymmetry transformations, which gives only half of the correct supercharge. We show how to derive the correct superpotential through Lagrangian methods, by applying a criterion proposed recently by one of us. We verify the equivalence with the Hamiltonian formalism. It is also indicated why the first-order and second-order formalisms lead to the same superpotential, We rederive in particular the central extension by the magnetic charge of the N-4 = 2 algebra of SUGRA asymptotic charges. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.