We investigate space-time supersymmetry of the model of multiple M2-branes proposed by Bagger-Lambert and Gustavsson. When there is a central element in Lie 3-algebra, the model possesses an extra symmetry shifting the fermions in the central element. Together with the original worldvolume supersymmetry transformation, we construct major part of the eleven dimensional space-time super-Poincaré algebra with central extensions. Implications to transverse five-branes in the matrix model for M-theory are also discussed.
In arXiv:0806.0363 the worldvolume superalgebra of the $\mathcal{N}=8$ Bagger-Lambert theory was calculated. In this paper we derive the general form for the worldvolume superalgebra of the $\mathcal{N}=6$ Bagger-Lambert theory. For a particular choice of three-algebra we derive the superalgebra of the ABJM theory. We interpret the associated central charges in terms of BPS brane configurations. In particular we find the central charge corresponding to the energy bound of the BPS fuzzy-funnel configuration of the ABJM theory. We also derive general expressions for the BPS equations of the $\ma…
The Noether charge algebras of D-brane actions contain two anomalous terms which modify the standard supertranslation algebra. We use a cocycle approach to derive associated spectra of topological charge algebras. The formalism is applied to $(p,q)$-strings and the D-membrane. The resulting spectra contain known algebras which allow the construction of extended superspace actions.
We study the closed and open supermembranes on the maximally supersymmetric pp-wave background. In the framework of the membrane theory, the superalgebra is calculated by using the Dirac bracket and we obtain its central extension by surface terms. The result supports the existence of the extended objects in the membrane theory in the pp-wave limit. When the central terms are discarded, the associated algebra completely agrees with that of Berenstein-Maldacena-Nastase matrix model. We also discuss the open supermembranes on the pp-wave and elaborate the possible boundary conditions.
Starting from gauged N=8 supergravity in three dimensions we construct actions for multiple membranes by taking the limit to global supersymmetry for different choices of the embedding tensor. This provides a general framework that reproduces many recent results on multiple membrane actions as well as generalisations thereof. As examples we discuss conformal (non-conformal) gaugings leading to multiple M2-branes (D2-branes) and massive deformations of these systems.
In this note we investigate quantum aspects of the newly proposed theory of multiple membranes put forward by Bagger and Lambert. In particular we analyse the possibility of a finite renormalisation of the coupling at one loop.
This paper examines various aspects of the recently proposed theory of coincident membranes by Bagger and Lambert. These include the properties of open membranes and the resulting boundary theory with an interpretation in terms of the fivebrane and marginal supersymmetric deformations of the interactions with the relation to the holographic dual.
These lecture notes introduce the multiple membrane theories known as BLG and ABJM. We assume the reader is familiar with string theory, but not with M-theory, 11-dimensional supergravity or membranes. We therefore start with a background on M-theory and its extended objects before discussing BLG and ABJM. The link to string theory via dimensional reduction will be maintained throughout.
The partial breaking of supersymmetry in anti-de Sitter (AdS) space can be accomplished using two of four dual representations for the massive OSp(1,4) spin-3/2 multiplet. The representations can be ``unHiggsed,'' which gives rise to a set of dual N=2 supergravities and supersymmetry algebras.
In this work we investigate connections between superalgebras and their realizations in terms of particles, branes and field theory models. We start from Poincaré superalgebras with brane charges and study its representations. The existence of new supermultiplets in different dimensions including an ultra short supermultiplet in D=11 different from the supergravity multiplet is shown. Generalizations of superalgebras containing brane charges, including those in D$>$11 are considered. The realization of these algebras at the level of relativistic particle models and, upon quantization, at the l…
We show that there exists a cut-off version of Nambu-Poisson bracket which defines a finite dimensional Lie 3-algebra. The algebra still satisfies the fundamental identity and thus produces N=8 supersymmetric BLG type equation of motion for multiple M2 branes. By counting the number of the moduli and the degree of freedom, we derive an entropy formula which scales as N^{3/2} as expected for the multiple M2 branes.
We compute supersymmetry algebra (superalgebra) in supersymmetric Yang-Mills theories (SYM) consisting of a vector multiplet including fermionic contribution in six dimensions. We show that the contribution of fermion is given by boundary terms. From six dimensional results we determine superalgebras of five and four dimensional SYM by dimensional reduction. In five dimensional superalgebra the Kaluza-Klein momentum and the instanton particle charge are not the same but algebraically indistinguishable. We also extend this calculation including a hyper multiplet and for maximally SYM. We derive…
We consider the maximal central extension of the supertranslation algebra in d=4 and 3, which includes tensor central charges associated to topological defects such as domain walls (membranes) and strings. We show that for all N-extended superalgebras these charges are related to nontrivial configurations on the scalar moduli space. For N=2 theories obtained from compactification on Calabi-Yau threefolds, we give an explicit realization of the moduli-dependent charges in terms of wrapped branes.
We analyze the structure of the family of quadratic superalgebras, introduced in J Phys A 44(23):235205 (2011), for the quadatic deformations of $N = 1$ space-time conformal supersymmetry. We characterize in particular the `zero-step' modules for this case. In such modules, the odd generators vanish identically, and the quadratic superalgebra is realized on a single irreducible representation of the even subalgebra (which is a Lie algebra). In the case under study, the quadratic deformations of $N = 1$ space-time conformal supersymmetry, it is shown that each massless positive energy unitary i…
We review developments in the theory of multiple, parallel membranes in M-theory. After discussing the inherent difficulties pertaining to a maximally supersymmetric lagrangian formulation with the appropriate field content and symmetries, we discuss how introducing the concept of 3-algebras allows for such a description. Different choices of 3-algebras lead to distinct classes of 2+1 dimensional theories with varying degrees of supersymmetry. We then describe how these are equivalent to a type of conventional superconformal Chern-Simons gauge theories at level k, coupled to bifundamental matt…
This thesis consists of two parts. In the first part we investigate the worldvolume supersymmetry algebra of multiple membrane theories. We begin with a description of M-theory branes and their intersections from the perspective of spacetime and worldvolume supersymmetry algebras. We then provide an overview of the recent work on multiple M2-branes focusing on the Bagger-Lambert theory and its relation to the Nambu-Poisson M5-brane and the ABJM theory. The worldvolume supersymmetry algebras of these theories are explicitly calculated and the charges interpreted in terms of spacetime intersecti…
In this note we study M5-branes in the multiple membrane action which is recently proposed by Aharony-Bergman-Jafferis-Maldacena. We write down the N=6 supersymmetry transformation of the action and obtain 1/2 BPS equations and their solutions. They are expected to represent membranes ending on a M5-brane. We also consider the M5-M2 bound state in the action.
We consider Lie superalgebras under constraints of Hamiltonian reduction, yielding finite $W$-superalgebras which provide candidates for quadratic spacetime superalgebras. These have an undeformed bosonic symmetry algebra (even generators) graded by a fermionic sector (supersymmetry generators) with anticommutator brackets which are quadratic in the even generators. We analyze the reduction of several Lie superalgebras of type $gl(M|N)$ or $osp(M|2N)$ at the classical (Poisson bracket) level, and also establish their quantum (Lie bracket) equivalents. Purely bosonic extensions are also conside…
We show that the Nahm equation which describes a fuzzy D3-brane in the presence of a B-field can be derived as a boundary condition of the F1-strings ending on the D3-brane, and that the modifications of the original Nahm equation by a B-field can be understood in terms of the noncommutative geometry of the D3-brane. Naturally this is consistent with the alternative derivation by quantising the open strings in the B-field background. We then consider a configuration of multiple M2-branes ending on an M5-brane with a constant 3-form C-field. By analogy with the case of strings ending on a D3-br…
Non-perturbative instanton corrections to the moduli space geometry of type IIA string theory compactified on a Calabi-Yau space are derived and found to contain order $e^{-1/g_s}$ contributions, where $g_s$ is the string coupling. The computation reduces to a weighted sum of supersymmetric extremal maps of strings, membranes and fivebranes into the Calabi-Yau space, all three of which enter on equal footing. It is shown that a supersymmetric 3-cycle is one for which the pullback of the Kähler form vanishes and the pullback of the holomorphic three-form is a constant multiple of the volume ele…
We analyse the fluctuations of the ground-state/funnel solutions proposed to describe M2-M5 systems in the level-k mass-deformed/pure Chern-Simons-matter ABJM theory of multiple membranes. We show that in the large N limit the fluctuations approach the space of functions on the 2-sphere rather than the naively expected 3-sphere. This is a novel realisation of the fuzzy 2-sphere in the context of Matrix Theories, which uses bifundamental instead of adjoint scalars. Starting from the multiple M2-brane action, a U(1) Yang-Mills theory on R^{2,1} x S^2 is recovered at large N, which is consistent …
We study a new class of inhomogeneous pp-wave solutions with 8 unbroken supersymmetries in D=11 supergravity. The 9 dimensional transverse space is Euclidean and split into 3 and 6 dimensional subspaces. The solutions have non-constant gauge flux, which are described in terms of an arbitrary holomorphic function of the complexified 6 dimensional space. The supermembrane and matrix theory descriptions are also provided and we identify the relevant supersymmetry transformation rules. The action also arises through a dimensional reduction of N=1, D=4 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory coupled to 3 …
Actions for branes, with or without worldsurface gauge fields, are discussed in a unified framework. A simple algorithm is given for constructing the component Green-Schwarz actions. Superspace actions are also discussed. Three examples are given to illustrate the general procedure: the membrane in D=11 and the D2-brane, which both have on-shell worldsurface supermultiplets, and the membrane in D=4, which has an off-shell multiplet.
The supermembrane theory on $R^{10}x S^1$ is investigated, for membranes that wrap once around the compact dimension. The Hamiltonian can be organized as describing $N_s$ interacting strings, the exact supermembrane corresponding to $N_s\to \infty$. The zero-mode part of $N_s-1$ strings turn out to be precisely the modes which are responsible of instabilities. For sufficiently large compactification radius $R_0$, interactions are negligible and the lowest-energy excitations are described by a set of harmonic oscillators. We compute the physical spectrum to leading order, which becomes exact in…
We display the construction of a twisted superalgebra for the N=1 Euclidian supergravity on 4-manifolds with an almost complex structure. It acts on a representation of twisted supersymmetry made of forms with odd and even statistics and it is covariant under a SU(2)\subset SO(4) Lorentz invariance of the manifold's tangent-space. It contains 4 twisted supersymmetry generators, one nilpotent scalar, one vector and one pseudo-scalar. The superalgebra closes on the twisted fields of supergravity in its new minimal set of auxiliary fields. Its couplings to the twisted Wess and Zumino and vector m…
We consider the multiple M2-branes wrapped on a compact Riemann surface and study the arising quantum mechanics by taking the limit where the size of the Riemann surface goes to zero. The IR quantum mechanical models resulting from the BLG-model and the ABJM-model compactified on a torus are N = 16 and N = 12 superconformal gauged quantum mechanics. After integrating out the auxiliary gauge fields we find OSp(16|2) and SU(1,1|6) quantum mechanics from the reduced systems. The curved Riemann surface is taken as a holomorphic curve in a Calabi-Yau space to preserve supersymmetry and we present a…
