Related papers: From Superstrings to M Theory
The conjectured symmetries of M-theory famously involve (1.) brane-extended super-symmetry (the M-algebra) and (2.) exceptional duality-symmetry (the $\mathfrak{e}_{11}$-algebra); but little attention has been given to their inevitable…
We study singular 1/2 BPS solutions in M-theory using 11-dimensional superstar solutions. The superstar solutions and their corresponding plane wave limits could give an insight how one may deform the boundary conditions to get singular,…
The well known N=2 string theory describes self-dual gravity, as was shown by Ooguri and Vafa sometime ago. In search of a variant of this theory which would describe self-dual supergravity in 2+2 dimensions, we have constructed two new N=2…
After a review of some topics concerning the phenomenological applications of perturbative string theory, I discuss to what extent all of it is affected by the recent developements in string dualities.
We construct supergravity theories in twelve and thirteen dimensions with the respective signatures (10,2) and (11,2) with some technical details. Starting with N=1 supergravity in 10+2 dimensions coupled to Green-Schwarz superstring, we…
Higher-order invariants and their role as possible counterterms for supergravity theories are reviewed. It is argued that N=8 supergravity will diverge at 5 loops. The construction of $R^4$ superinvariants in string and M-theory is…
We describe three previously unnoticed components of the moduli space of minimally supersymmetric string theories in $d\geq 7$, describing in some detail their spectrum and duality properties. We find a new component in nine and eight…
This talk deals with the old problem of formulatingn a covariant quantum theory of superstrings, ``covariant'' here meaning having manifest Lorentz symmetry and supersymmetry. The advantages and disadvantages of several quantization methods…
The connection between Superstring theory and the low--energy world is analyzed. In particular, the soft Supersymmetry--breaking terms arising in Supergravity theories coming from Superstrings are computed. Several solutions proposed to…
Despite the lack of experimental confirmation and of unambiguous theoretical proof, superstring theory has long been considered by many the only consistent quantized theory of gravity and the unique viable framework for the unification of…
An explanation of the origin of the hidden eleventh dimension in string theory is given. It is shown that any two sigma models describing the propagation of string backgrounds are related to each other by a Weyl transformation of the…
Recent developments involving strongly coupled superstrings are discussed from a phenomenological point of view. In particular, strongly coupled $E_8\times E'_8$ is described as an appropriate long-wavelength limit of M-theory, and some…
This thesis consists of an introductory text, which is divided into two parts, and six appended research papers. The first part contains a general discussion on conformal and superconformal symmetry in six dimensions, and treats how the…
We consider field theories with sixteen supersymmetries, which includes U(N) Yang-Mills theories in various dimensions, and argue that their large N limit is related to certain supergravity solutions. We study this by considering a system…
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…
We argue that eleven dimensional supergravity can be described by a non-linear realisation based on the group E_{11}. This requires a formulation of eleven dimensional supergravity in which the gravitational degrees of freedom are described…
At the macrosopic level we study candidate 3D effective field theories associated to M theory in three dimensions. These represent analogs of 11D supergravity for eleven dimensional M-theory. At the microscopic level we study various world…
There is evidence that string theory possesses a large discretuum of stable and/or metastable ground states, with zero or four supersymmetries in four dimensions. I discuss critically the nature of this evidence. Assuming this "landscape"…
The cosmological compactification of D=10, N=1 supergravity-super-Yang-Mills theory obtained from superstring theory is studied. The constraint of unbroken N=1 supersymmetry is imposed. A duality transformation is performed on the resulting…
We show that the multiparameter (intersecting) brane solutions of string/M theories given in the literature can all be obtained by a suitable combination of boosts in eleven dimension, S and T dualities. We also describe a duality property…