Premium
Form‐field gauge symmetry in M‐theory
Author(s) -
Kalkkinen J.,
Stelle K.S.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
fortschritte der physik
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.469
H-Index - 71
eISSN - 1521-3978
pISSN - 0015-8208
DOI - 10.1002/prop.200310108
Subject(s) - physics , gauge theory , gauge symmetry , introduction to gauge theory , brst quantization , noncommutative geometry , supersymmetric gauge theory , homogeneous space , mathematical physics , theoretical physics , hamiltonian lattice gauge theory , cohomology , brane , lattice gauge theory , quantum mechanics , mathematics , pure mathematics , geometry
We show how to cast an interacting system of M‐branes into manifestly gauge‐invariant form using an arrangement of higher‐dimensional Dirac surfaces. Classical M‐theory has a cohomologically nontrivial and noncommutative set of gauge symmetries when written using a “doubled” formalism containing 3‐form and 6‐form gauge fields. We show how the arrangement of Dirac surfaces allows an integral subgroup of these symmetries to be preserved at the quantum level. The proper context for discussing these large gauge transformations is relative cohomology, in which the 3‐form transformation parameters become exact when restricted to the five‐brane worldvolume. This structure yields the correct lattice of M‐theory brane charges.