Related papers: What does E_8 know about 11 dimensions ?
A recent result concerning interacting theories of self-dual tensor gauge fields in six dimensions is generalized to include coupling to gravity. The formalism makes five of the six general coordinate invariances manifest, whereas the sixth…
In addition to the familiar string theories with spacetime supersymmetry, there exist a number of non-supersymmetric ten-dimensional superstrings. Nearly all of these theories have closed string tachyons, indicating a misidentification of…
We present globally supersymmetric models of gauged scale covariance in ten, six, and four-dimensions. This is an application of a recent similar gauging in three-dimensions for a massive self-dual vector multiplet. In ten-dimensions, we…
I suggest the possibility of a new string in ten dimensions. Evidence for this string is presented both from orientifold physics and from K-theory, along with a mystery concerning the M-theory description. Motivated by this possibility,…
We consider a few topics in $E_{11}$ approach to superstring/M-theory: even subgroups ($Z_2$ orbifolds) of $E_{n}$, n=11,10,9 and their connection to Kac-Moody algebras; $EE_{11}$ subgroup of $E_{11}$ and coincidence of one of its weights…
We discuss the relation between supersymmetric gauge theory of branes and supergravity; as it was discovered in D-brane physics, and as it appears in Matrix theory, with emphasis on motion in curved backgrounds. We argue that gauged sigma…
Synthesizing older ideas about the 1/N expansion in gauge theory, the quantum mechanics of black holes, and quantum field theory in Anti de Sitter space, a new correspondence between gauge theory and quantum gravity has illuminated both…
This contribution gives a panoramic overview of the development of N=8 supergravity and its relation to other maximally supersymmetric theories over the past 40 years. It also provides a personal perspective on the future role of this…
We introduce fermions into the E11 non-linear realisation. We show, at low levels, that the commutators of the Cartan involution invariant subalgebra of E11 with the known supersymmetry transformations of eleven dimensional supergravity…
This article contains an overview of some recent attempts at understanding supergravity and string duals of four dimensional gauge theories using the AdS/CFT correspondence. We discuss the general philosophy underlying the various ways to…
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…
The eleven-dimensional gravitational action invariant under local Poincare transformations is given by the dimensional continuation of the Euler class of ten dimensions. Here we show that the supersymmetric extension of this action leads,…
Various gauge invariant but non-Yang-Mills dynamical models are discussed: Pr\'ecis of Chern-Simons theory in (2+1)-dimensions and reduction to (1+1)-dimensional B-F theories; gauge theories for (1+1)-dimensional gravity-matter…
Special solutions of string theory in supercritical dimensions can interpolate in time between theories with different numbers of spacetime dimensions (via dimension quenching) and different amounts of worldsheet supersymmetry (via…
We show that requiring sixteen supersymmetries in quantum mechanical gauge theory implies the existence of a web of constrained interactions. Contrary to conventional wisdom, these constraints extend to arbitrary orders in the momentum…
Recent developments in superstring theory have led to major advances in understanding. After reviewing where things stood earlier, we sketch the impact of recently identified dualities and D-branes, as well as a hidden eleventh dimension.
I summarize and discuss some recent results on formulating actions of six-dimensional superconformal field theories using the language of higher gauge theory. The latter guarantees mathematical consistency of our constructions and we review…
In this letter, we reconsider the delicate issue of symmetry and supersymmetry breakings for gauge theories with gauge-field mixings. The purpose is to study generalyzed potentials in the presence of more than a single gauge potential. In…
We show how to do gauge theory on the octonions and other nonassociative algebras such as `fuzzy $R^4$' models proposed in string theory. We use the theory of quasialgebras obtained by cochain twist introduced previously. The gauge theory…
Two different mechanisms exist in non-perturbative String / M- theory for enhanced SU(N) (SO(2N)) gauge symmetries. It can appear in type IIA string theory or M-theory near an $A_{N-1}$ (D_N) type singularity where membrnes wrapped around…