E_11: Sign of the times

Abstract

We discuss the signature of space-time in the context of the E_11 -conjecture. In this setting, the space-time signature depends on the choice of basis for the ``gravitational sub-algebra'' A_10, and Weyl transformations connect interpretations with different signatures of space-time. Also the sign of the 4-form gauge field term in the Lagrangian enters as an adjustable sign in a generalized signature. Within E_11, the combination of space-time signature (1,10) with conventional sign for the 4-form term, appropriate to M-theory, can be transformed to the signatures (2,9) and (5,6) of Hull's M*- and M'-theories (as well as (6,5), (9,2) and (10,1)). Theories with other signatures organize in orbits disconnected from these theories. We argue that when taking E_11 seriously as a symmetry algebra, one cannot discard theories with multiple time-directions as unphysical. We also briefly explore links with the SL(32,R) conjecture.

20 pages, LaTeX, 1 figure; v2. typo's corrected, references added

References in corpus (28)

• M Theory As A Matrix Model: A Conjecture
• String Theory Dynamics In Various Dimensions
• Unity of Superstring Dualities
• E_11 and M Theory
• Timelike T-Duality, de Sitter Space, Large $N$ Gauge Theories and Topological Field Theory
• E10 and a "small tension expansion" of M Theory
• Dualisation of Dualities, I
• Duality and the Signature of Space-Time
• $E_{11}$, SL(32) and Central Charges
• Very-extended Kac-Moody algebras and their interpretation at low levels
• M-Theory as a Holographic Field Theory
• Very Extended $E_8$ and $A_8$ at low levels, Gravity and Supergravity
• Higher-dimensional Origin of D=3 Coset Symmetries
• G+++ Invariant Formulation of Gravity and M-Theories: Exact BPS Solutions
• Branes, Times and Dualities
• Representations of G+++ and the role of space-time
• Duality and Moduli Spaces for Time-Like Reductions
• Holonomy and Symmetry in M-theory
• The group theory of oxidation
• The group theory of oxidation II: Cosets of non-split groups
• M theory as a matrix extension of Chern-Simons theory
• The many faces of OSp(1|32)
• Brane Rotating Symmetries and the Fivebrane Equations of Motion
• The topology of U-duality (sub-)groups
• Towards a Chern-Simons M theory of $OSp(1|32)\times OSp(1|32)$
• Oxidation = group theory
• E11 and Spheric Vacuum Solutions of Eleven- and Ten dimensional Supergravity Theories
• On the construction of variant supergravities in D=11, D=10

Cited by in corpus (30)

• M-theory and Type IIB from a Duality Manifest Action
• G+++ Invariant Formulation of Gravity and M-Theories: Exact Intersecting Brane Solutions
• Counting supersymmetric branes
• An E9 multiplet of BPS states
• Beyond E11
• A master exceptional field theory
• On supersymmetric E11 exceptional field theory
• Supersymmetric Domain Walls
• IIA and IIB spinors from K(E10)
• Exotic E11 branes as composite gravitational solutions
• Non-abelian U-duality at work
• Dualities and signatures of G++ invariant theories
• E10 Orbifolds
• Time-like T-duality algebra
• Poincare Duality and G+++ algebra's
• "Flip" of SL(2,R)-duality in five-dimensional supergravity
• Some Algebraic Aspects of Half-BPS Bound States in M-Theory
• Finite and infinite-dimensional symmetries of pure N=2 supergravity in D=4
• Kac-Moody Algebras in M-theory
• Higher spin fields from indefinite Kac-Moody algebras
• Timelike duality, $M^{\prime }$-theory and an exotic form of the Englert solution
• M-Theory Solutions in Multiple Signatures from E_11
• Gravitational Coset Models
• Connections between Kac-Moody algebras and M-theory
• Remarks on E11 approach
• Algebraic structures in M-theory
• The M-algebra completes the hierarchy of Super-Exceptional Tangent Spaces
• The Two-Parameter Brane Sigma-Model and Extended Solutions of M-Theory
• Gravitational theories coupled to matter as invariant theories under Kac-Moody algebras
• String Dualities and Gaugings of Supergravity