Quantum M2-branes and Holography

Abstract

We discuss the semi-classical quantisation of supersymmetric membranes in holographic geometries with asymptotic AdS${}_4$ and AdS${}_7$ boundary conditions. In AdS${}_4$ geometries this quantisation prompts the need of ensemble changes when comparing bulk and boundary observables arising from such membranes. We also discuss how supersymmetric membranes localise to loci where the background Killing spinor turns chiral, circumventing the need of evaluating their zero-mode moduli integrals. Finally, we discuss a bulk analysis of an infinite tower of membrane instantons, or giant gravitons, in AdS${}_7$ geometries, whose worldvolume dynamics effectively reduces to a quantum mechanical system. This allows us to test, in a holographic setting, the emergence proposal that perturbative supergravity data may be extracted from towers of membrane instantons.

Contribution to the proceedings of the Corfu Summer Institute 2025 "School and Workshops on Elementary Particle Physics and Gravity" (CORFU2025)