M-brane models from non-abelian gerbes

Abstract

We make the observation that M-brane models defined in terms of 3-algebras can be interpreted as higher gauge theories involving Lie 2-groups. Such gauge theories arise in particular in the description of non-abelian gerbes. This observation allows us to put M2- and M5-brane models on equal footing, at least as far as the gauge structure is concerned. Furthermore, it provides a useful framework for various generalizations; in particular, it leads to a fully supersymmetric generalization of a previously proposed set of tensor multiplet equations.