Higher spins from Nambu-Chern-Simons theory

This is the author accepted manuscript. It is currently under an indefinite embargo pending publication by Springer.We propose a new theory of higher spin gravity in three spacetime dimensions. This is defined by what we will call a Nambu-Chern-Simons (NCS) action; this is to a Nambu 3-algebra as an ordinary Chern-Simons (CS) action is to a Lie (2-)algebra. The novelty is that the gauge group of this theory is $\textit{simple}$; this stands in contrast to previously understood interacting 3D higher spin theories in the frame-like formalism. We also consider the $\textit{N}$ = 8 supersymmetric NCS-matter model (BLG theory), where the NCS action originated: Its fully supersymmetric M2 brane configurations are interpreted as Hopf fibrations, the homotopy type of the (infinite) gauge group is calculated and its instantons are classified.Support from the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council (grant ST/L000385/1), from Clare Hall College, Cambridge, and from the Cambridge Trust

Black hole thermodynamics, stringy dualities and double field theory

We discuss black hole thermodynamics in the manifestly duality invariant formalism of double field theory (DFT). We reformulate and prove the first law of black hole thermodynamics in DFT, using the covariant phase space approach. After splitting the full O(D, D) invariant DFT into a Kaluza-Klein-inspired form where only n coordinates are doubled, our results provide explicit duality invariant mass and entropy formulas. We illustrate how this works by discussing the black fundamental string solution and its T-duals.Comment: 39 pages, including 2 appendices. v3: Published version. Some references added, minor edit

Romans Massive QP Manifolds

We introduce QP manifolds that capture the generalised geometry of type IIA string backgrounds with Ramond–Ramond fluxes and Romans mass. Each of these is associated with a BPS brane in type IIA: a D2, D4, or NS5-brane. We explain how these probe branes are related to their associated QP-manifolds via the AKSZ topological field theory construction and the recent brane phase space construction. M-theory/type IIA duality is realised on the QP-manifold side as symplectic reduction along the M-theory circle (for branes that do not wrap it); this always produces IIA QP-manifolds with vanishing Romans mass.Peer Reviewe

Homotopy Transfer and Effective Field Theory II: Strings and Double Field Theory

We continue our study of effective field theory via homotopy transfer of $L_\infty$-algebras, and apply it to tree-level non-Wilsonian effective actions of the kind discussed by Sen in which the modes integrated out are comparable in mass to the modes that are kept. We focus on the construction of effective actions for string states at fixed levels and in particular on the construction of weakly constrained double field theory. With these examples in mind, we discuss closed string theory on toroidal backgrounds and resolve some subtle issues involving vertex operators, including the proper form of cocycle factors and of the reflector state. This resolves outstanding issues concerning the construction of covariant closed string field theory on toroidal backgrounds. The weakly constrained double field theory is formally obtained from closed string field theory on a toroidal background by integrating out all but the doubly massless' states and homotopy transfer then gives a prescription for determining the theory's vertices and symmetries. We also discuss consistent truncation in the context of homotopy transfer.Comment: 53 pages. v2: References adde