English

BPS preons in M-theory and supergravity

High Energy Physics - Theory 2008-11-26 v1

Abstract

After introducing the notion of BPS preons as the basic constituents of M-theory, we discuss the recent negative results in the search for solutions of the D=10 and D=11 supergravity equations preserving 31/32 supersymmetries i.e., of preonic solutions. The absence of these supergravity preonic solutions may point out to a pure quantum nature of BPS preons, manifesting itself in the need of incorporating quantum (stringy/M-theoretic) corrections to the supergravity equations.

Cite

@article{arxiv.hep-th/0702099,
  title  = {BPS preons in M-theory and supergravity},
  author = {I. A. Bandos and J. A. de Azcarraga},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:hep-th/0702099},
  year   = {2008}
}

Comments

plain latex, 10 pages. Talk delivered at the Workshop of the RTN network "Constituents, fundamental forces and Symmetries of the Universe", Napoli October 9-13, 2006