6 research outputs found
KO-Homology and Type I String Theory
We study the classification of D-branes and Ramond-Ramond fields in Type I
string theory by developing a geometric description of KO-homology. We define
an analytic version of KO-homology using KK-theory of real C*-algebras, and
construct explicitly the isomorphism between geometric and analytic
KO-homology. The construction involves recasting the Cl(n)-index theorem and a
certain geometric invariant into a homological framework which is used, along
with a definition of the real Chern character in KO-homology, to derive
cohomological index formulas. We show that this invariant also naturally
assigns torsion charges to non-BPS states in Type I string theory, in the
construction of classes of D-branes in terms of topological KO-cycles. The
formalism naturally captures the coupling of Ramond-Ramond fields to background
D-branes which cancel global anomalies in the string theory path integral. We
show that this is related to a physical interpretation of bivariant KK-theory
in terms of decay processes on spacetime-filling branes. We also provide a
construction of the holonomies of Ramond-Ramond fields in Type II string theory
in terms of topological K-chains.Comment: 40 pages; v4: Clarifying comments added, more detailed proof of main
isomorphism theorem given; Final version to be published in Reviews in
Mathematical Physic
Geometric K-Homology of Flat D-Branes
We use the Baum-Douglas construction of K-homology to explicitly describe
various aspects of D-branes in Type II superstring theory in the absence of
background supergravity form fields. We rigorously derive various stability
criteria for states of D-branes and show how standard bound state constructions
are naturally realized directly in terms of topological K-cycles. We formulate
the mechanism of flux stabilization in terms of the K-homology of non-trivial
fibre bundles. Along the way we derive a number of new mathematical results in
topological K-homology of independent interest.Comment: 45 pages; v2: References added; v3: Some substantial revision and
corrections, main results unchanged but presentation improved, references
added; to be published in Communications in Mathematical Physic