M-THEORY PHYSICS · K-Homology and M-Theory physics

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Project objective

We apply new mathematical tools of certain generalized cohomology theories, namely K-homology and differential cohomology, to study the problem of obtaining realistic four-dimensional backgrounds of string theory suitable for phenomelogical analyses. The consistency conditions implied by the cancellation of global anomalies in string theory are used to establish the conditions under which a given compactification is consistent. Twisted K-theory and K-homology is used to derive an effective action governing the dynamics of little string theory, with an eye to gaining insight into the world volume theory of the M5-brane in M-theory. The gauge theories defined by non-trivial background B-fields are developed and used to study a large N limit of the gravitational sector of string theory such that the limit is precisely M-theory. A crucial ingredient in our construction is the identification of the topological sectors of Type IIA string theory and M-theory with gauge theories based on the rank 8 exceptional Lie group E8.

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Participants

• HERIOT-WATT UNIVERSITY · EDINBURGHCoordinatorUnited Kingdom

Links

• View on CORDIS