English

Calculable membrane theory

High Energy Physics - Theory 2009-02-13 v2

Abstract

The key to membrane theory is to enlarge the diffeomorphism group until 4D gravity becomes almost topological. Just one ghost survives and its central charges can cancel against matter. A simple bosonic membrane emerges, but its flat D = 28 target space is unstable. Adding supersymmetry ought to give calculable (2,2) membranes in 12 target dimensions, but (2,1) membranes won't work.

Cite

@article{arxiv.0902.0300,
  title  = {Calculable membrane theory},
  author = {C. Lovelace},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0902.0300},
  year   = {2009}
}

Comments

11 pages. Section 5 changed: some confusion corrected and explanations added

R2 v1 2026-06-21T12:07:06.715Z