Related papers: Generalized Higher Gauge Theory and M5-brane dynam…
These are notes for four lectures on higher structures in M-theory as presented at workshops at the Erwin Schroedinger Institute and Tohoku University. The first lecture gives an overview of systems of multiple M5-branes and introduces the…
We introduce M-theoretic generalisations of the notion of (exact) Courant algebroid, and summarise their connections to generalised geometry, U-duality, and the physics of strings, membranes, and fivebranes. This is a summary of a paper…
Starting with minimal requirements from the physical experience with higher gauge theories, i.e. gauge theories for a tower of differential forms of different form degrees, we discover that all the structural identities governing such…
Generalized geometry finds many applications in the mathematical description of some aspects of string theory. In a nutshell, it explores various structures on a generalized tangent bundle associated to a given manifold. In particular,…
We consider the topological and geometric structures associated with cohomological and homological objects in M-theory. For the latter, we have M2-branes and M5-branes, the analysis of which requires the underlying spacetime to admit a…
Given a vector bundle $A\to M$ we study the geometry of the graded manifolds $T^*[k]A[1]$, including their canonical symplectic structures, compatible Q-structures and Lagrangian Q-submanifolds. We relate these graded objects to classical…
We study the new ``gauge'' theories in 5+1 dimensions, and their non-commutative generalizations. We argue that the $\theta$-term and the non-commutative torus parameters appear on an equal footing in the non-critical string theories which…
We develop a description of higher gauge theory with higher groupoids as gauge structure from first principles. This approach captures ordinary gauge theories and gauged sigma models as well as their categorifications on a very general…
We analyze higher gauge theories in various dimensions using a supergeometric method based on a differential graded symplectic manifold, called a QP-manifold, which is closely related to the BRST-BV formalism in gauge theories. Extensions…
We analyze the gauge structure of a recently proposed superconformal field theory in six dimensions. We find that this structure amounts to a weak Courant-Dorfman algebra, which, in turn, can be interpreted as a strong homotopy Lie algebra.…
We make the observation that M-brane models defined in terms of 3-algebras can be interpreted as higher gauge theories involving Lie 2-groups. Such gauge theories arise in particular in the description of non-abelian gerbes. This…
This is an invited survey article on higher gauge theory for the Encyclopedia of Mathematical Physics, 2nd edition. In particular, we provide a lightning introduction to higher structures and to the construction of the kinematical data of…
We study a generalization of higher gauge theory which makes use of generalized geometry and seems to be closely related to double field theory. The local kinematical data of this theory is captured by morphisms of graded manifolds between…
In this informal review for non-specalists we discuss the construction of maximally supersymmetric gauge theories that arise on the worldvolumes branes in String Theory and M-Theory. Particular focus is made on the relatively recent…
In this note we provide a new perspective on the topological parts of several action functionals in string and M-theory. We show that rationally these can be viewed as large gauge transformations corresponding to variations of higher…
We present "M5 algebra" to derive Courant brackets of the generalized geometry of $T\oplus \Lambda^2T^\ast \oplus \Lambda^5T^\ast$: The Courant bracket generates the generalized diffeomorphism including gauge transformations of three and…
Extended geometry provides a unified framework for double geometry, exceptional geometry, etc., i.e., for the geometrisations of the string theory and M-theory dualities. In this talk, we will explain the structure of gauge transformations…
The notion of global higher-form symmetries has received much attention, but leaves room for a more systematic mathematical formulation. In this article, we highlight the concept of higher automorphism bundles from the field of higher…
In this thesis, the emerging field of higher gauge theory will be discussed, particularly in relation to problems arising in M-theory, such as selfdual strings and the so-called (2,0) theory. This thesis will begin with a Nahm-like…
We present a generalised geometry framework for systematically constructing consistent truncations of ten- and eleven-dimensional supergravity preserving varying fractions of supersymmetry. Truncations arise when there is a reduced…