On higher-order corrections in M theory

A theoretical analysis of higher-order corrections to D=11 supergravity is given in a superspace framework. It is shown that any deformation of D=11 supergravity for which the lowest-dimensional component of the four-form $G_4$ vanishes is trivial. This implies that the equations of motion of D=11 supergravity are specified by an element of a certain spinorial cohomology group and generalises previous results obtained using spinorial or pure spinor cohomology to the fully non-linear theory. The first deformation of the theory is given by an element of a different spinorial cohomology group with coefficients which are local tensorial functions of the massless supergravity fields. The four-form Bianchi Identities are solved, to first order and at dimension $-{1/2}$, in the case that the lowest-dimensional component of $G_4$ is non-zero. Moreover, it is shown how one can calculate the first-order correction to the dimension-zero torsion and thus to the supergravity equations of motion given an explicit expression for this object in terms of the supergravity fields. The version of the theory with both a four-form and a seven-form is discussed in the presence of the five-brane anomaly-cancelling term. It is shown that the supersymmetric completion of this term exists and it is argued that it is the unique anomaly-cancelling invariant at this dimension which is at least quartic in the fields. This implies that the first deformation of the theory is completely determined by the anomaly term from which one can, in principle, read off the corrections to all of the superspace field strength tensors.Comment: 32 pages. v2: Two references added in the text; footnote adde

The Threebrane Soliton of the M-Fivebrane

We discuss the supersymmetry algebra of the M theory fivebrane and obtain a new threebrane soliton preserving half of the six-dimensional supersymmetry. This solution is dimensionally reduced to various D-p-branes.Comment: 10 pages, phyzz

A New Massive Type IIA Supergravity From Compactification

We consider the most general form for eleven dimensional supersymmetry compatible with on-shell superfields. This allows for the introduction of a conformal Spin(1,10) connection. In eleven dimensional Minkowski space this modification is trivial and can be removed by a field redefinition, however, upon compactification on S^1 it is possible to introduce a non-trivial `Wilson line'. The resulting ten dimensional supergravity has massive 1-form and 3-form potentials and a cosmological constant. This theory does not possess a supersymmetric eightbrane soliton but it does admit a supersymmetric non-static cosmological solution.Comment: 13 pages, phyzzx. The introduction is clarifed and a reference adde

L-branes

The superembedding approach to $p$-branes is used to study a class of $p$-branes which have linear multiplets on the worldvolume. We refer to these branes as L-branes. Although linear multiplets are related to scalar multiplets (with 4 or 8 supersymmetries) by dualising one of the scalars of the latter to a $p$-form field strength, in many geometrical situations it is the linear multiplet version which arises naturally. Furthermore, in the case of 8 supersymmetries, the linear multiplet is off-shell in contrast to the scalar multiplet. The dynamics of the L-branes are obtained by using a systematic procedure for constructing the Green-Schwarz action from the superembedding formalism. This action has a Dirac-Born-Infeld type structure for the $p$-form. In addition, a set of equations of motion is postulated directly in superspace, and is shown to agree with the Green-Schwarz equations of motion.Comment: revised version, minor changes, references added, 22 pages, no figures, LaTe

Volume-reflecting dielectric heat shield

White, volume-reflecting dielectric material absorbs essentially none of the incident radiant energy, and continues to reflect even though in severe environment its surface is melted and is being vaporized. Process of overall reflectance in dielectric material, involving internal refractions and reflections, is similar to process of reflection in paints

The deformed M2-brane

The superembedding formalism is used to study correction terms to the dynamics of the M2 brane in a flat background. This is done by deforming the standard embedding constraint. It is shown rigorously that the first such correction occurs at dimension four. Cohomological techniques are used to determine this correction explicitly. The action is derived to quadratic order in fermions, and the modified \k-symmetry transformations are given.Comment: 38 pages, 3 figure

On the covariance of the Dirac-Born-Infeld-Myers action

A covariant version of the non-abelian Dirac-Born-Infeld-Myers action is presented. The non-abelian degrees of freedom are incorporated by adjoining to the (bosonic) worldvolume of the brane a number of anticommuting fermionic directions corresponding to boundary fermions in the string picture. The proposed action treats these variables as classical but can be given a matrix interpretation if a suitable quantisation prescription is adopted. After gauge-fixing and quantisation of the fermions, the action is shown to be in agreement with the Myers action derived from T-duality. It is also shown that the requirement of covariance in the above sense leads to a modified WZ term which also agrees with the one proposed by Myers.Comment: 18 pages. Minor alterations to the text; references adde