On M-Theory

This contribution gives a personal view on recent attempts to find a unified framework for non-perturbative string theories, with special emphasis on the hidden symmetries of supergravity and their possible role in this endeavor. A reformulation of $d=11$ supergravity with enlarged tangent space symmetry SO(1,2) $\times$ SO(16) is discussed from this perspective, as well as an ansatz to construct yet further versions with SO(1,1) $\times$ SO(16)$^\infty$ and possibly even SO(1,1)$_+$ $\times$ ISO(16)$^\infty$ tangent space symmetry. It is suggested that upon ``third quantization'', dimensionally reduced maximal supergravity may have an equally important role to play in this unification as the dimensionally reduced maximally supersymmetric $SU(\infty)$ Yang Mills theory.Comment: 16 pages (Latex), contribution to the 31st Ahrenshoop International Symposium on the Theory of Elementary Particles, Buckow, Germany, 2-6 September 1997, and the Discussion Meeting on Black Holes, Bangalore, India, 8-10 December 1997. Changes in section 4, minor corrections in previous section

IIB supergravity and E10

We analyse the geodesic E10/K(E10) sigma-model in a level decomposition w.r.t. the A8xA1 subalgebra of E10, adapted to the bosonic sector of type IIB supergravity, whose SL(2,R) symmetry is identified with the A1 factor. The bosonic supergravity equations of motion, when restricted to zeroth and first order spatial gradients, are shown to match with the sigma-model equations of motion up to level four. Remarkably, the self-duality of the five-form field strength is implied by E10 and the matching.Comment: 14 page

E10 Cosmology

We construct simple exact solutions to the E10/K(E10) coset model by exploiting its integrability. Using the known correspondences with the bosonic sectors of maximal supergravity theories, these exact solutions translate into exact cosmological solutions. In this way, we are able to recover some recently discovered solutions of M-theory exhibiting phases of accelerated expansion, or, equivalently, S-brane solutions, and thereby accommodate such solutions within the E10/K(E10) model. We also discuss the difficulties regarding solutions with non-vanishing (constant) curvature of the internal manifold.Comment: 16 pages, 1 figure. v2: Additional reference

Supermembranes and M(atrix) Theory

In these lectures, we review the D=11 supermembrane and supersymmetric matrix models at an introductory level. We also discuss some more recent developments in connection with non-perturbative string theory.Comment: 46 pages, 4 figures, Lectures given by H. Nicolai at the Trieste Spring School on Non-Perturbative Aspects of String Theory and Supersymmetric Gauge Theories, 23 - 31 March 199

New Canonical Variables for d=11 Supergravity

A set of new canonical variables for $d=11$ supergravity is proposed which renders the supersymmetry variations and the supersymmetry constraint polynomial. The construction is based on the $SO(1,2)\times SO(16)$ invariant reformulation of $d=11$ supergravity given in previous work, and has some similarities with Ashtekar's reformulation of Einstein's theory. The new bosonic variables fuse the gravitational degrees of freedom with those of the three-index photon $A_{MNP}$ in accordance with the hidden symmetries of the dimensionally reduced theory. Although $E_8$ is not a symmetry of the theory, the bosonic sector exhibits a remarkable $E_8$ structure, hinting at the existence of a novel type of ``exceptional geometry''.Comment: 14 pages, LATE

On higher spin realizations of K(E10)

Starting from the known unfaithful spinorial representations of the compact subalgebra K(E10) of the split real hyperbolic Kac-Moody algebra E10 we construct new fermionic `higher spin' representations of this algebra (for `spin-5/2' and `spin-7/2', respectively) in a second quantized framework. Our construction is based on a simplified realization of K(E10) on the Dirac and the vector spinor representations in terms of the associated roots, and on a re-definition of the vector spinor first introduced by Damour and Hillmann. The latter replaces manifestly SO(10) covariant expressions by new expressions that are covariant w.r.t. SO(1,9), the invariance group of the DeWitt metric restricted to the space of scale factors. We present explicit expressions for all K(E10) elements that are associated to real roots of the hyperbolic algebra (of which there are infinitely many), as well as novel explicit realizations of the generators associated to imaginary roots and their multiplicities. We also discuss the resulting realizations of the Weyl group.Comment: 33 page

Conformal invariance from non-conformal gravity

We discuss the conditions under which classically conformally invariant models in four dimensions can arise out of non-conformal (Einstein) gravity. As an `existence proof' that this is indeed possible we show how to derive N=4 super Yang Mills theory with any compact gauge group G from non-conformal gauged N=4 supergravity as a special flat space limit. We stress the role that the anticipated UV finiteness of the (so far unknown) underlying theory of quantum gravity would have to play in such a scheme, as well as the fact that the masses of elementary particles would have to arise via quantum gravitational effects which mimic the conformal anomalies of standard (flat space) UV divergent quantum field theory.Comment: 18 page

Renormalization Group and Effective Potential in Classically Conformal Theories

We derive a general formula for the RG improved effective (Coleman-Weinberg) potential for classically conformal models, applying it to several examples of physical interest, and in particular a model of QCD coupled via quarks to a colorless scalar field. The closed form expressions allow us to discuss the range of validity of the effective potential as well as the issue of `large logarithms' in a way different from previous such analyses. Remarkably, in all examples considered, convexity of the effective potential is restored by the RG improvement, or otherwise the potential becomes unstable. In the former case, symmetry breaking becomes unavoidable due to the appearance of an infrared barrier $\Lambda_{IR}$, which hints at a so far unsuspected link between $\Lambda_{QCD}$ and the scale of electroweak symmetry breaking.Comment: 17 pages, 2 figures, formulas corrected, references adde

Conformal Anomaly and Off-Shell Extensions of Gravity

The gauge dependence of the conformal anomaly for spin 3/2 and spin 2 fields in non-conformal supergravities has been a long standing puzzle. In this Letter we argue that the `correct' gauge choice is the one that follows from requiring all terms that would imply a violation of the Wess-Zumino consistency condition to be absent in the counterterm, because otherwise the usual link between the anomaly and the one-loop divergence becomes invalid. Remarkably, the `good' choice of gauge is the one that confirms our previous result that a complete cancellation of conformal anomalies in D=4 can only be achieved for N-extended (Poincar\'e) supergravities with $N\geq 5$

Conformal Anomalies and Gravitational Waves

We argue that the presence of conformal anomalies in gravitational theories can lead to observable modifications to Einstein's equations via the induced anomalous effective actions, whose non-localities can overwhelm the smallness of the Planck scale. The fact that no such effects have been seen in recent cosmological or gravitational wave observations therefore imposes strong restrictions on the field content of possible extensions of Einstein's theory: all viable theories should have vanishing conformal anomalies. We then show that a complete cancellation of conformal anomalies in D=4 for both the $C^2$ invariant and the Euler (Gauss-Bonnet) invariant can only be achieved for N-extended supergravities with $N \geq 5$, as well as for M theory compactified to four dimensions.Comment: 4 page