M-theory and Characteristic Classes

Abstract

In this note we show that the Chern-Simons and the one-loop terms in the M-theory action can be written in terms of new characters involving the M-theory four-form and the string classes. This sheds a new light on the topological structure behind M-theory and suggests the construction of a theory of `higher' characteristic classes.Comment: 8 pages. Error in gravitational term fixed; minor corrections; reference and acknowledgement adde