paper

Open supermembranes in eleven dimensions

arXiv:hep-th/9704165 · doi:10.1016/S0370-2693(97)00761-2

Abstract

We consider open supermembranes in an eleven dimensional background. We show that, in a flat space-time, the world-volume action is kappa-symmetric and has global space-time supersymmetry if space-time has even dimensional topological defects where the membrane can end. An example of such topological defects is provided by the space-time with boundaries considered by Horava and Witten. In that case the world-volume action has reparametrisation anomalies whose cancellation requires the inclusion of a current algebra on the boundaries of the membrane. The role of kappa-anomalies in a general background is discussed. The tension of the membrane is related to the eleven dimensional gravitational constant with the aid of the Green-Schwarz mechanism allowing a consistency check of M-theory.

uu.encoded file including 1 Latex file and 2 eosf figures. 15 pages

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