M-theory Backgrounds Research Articles

End of the world branes from dimensional reduction

We consider dimensional reduction of cigar geometries which are obtained by a Wick rotation of black hole solutions. Originally the cigar geometry is smooth around the tip, but after the dimensional reduction along the Euclidean time direction, there appears an end-of-the-world brane (ETW brane). We derive the tension of the brane by two methods: bulk equations of motion and boundary equations of motion.In particular, for AdS7-soliton ×S4 and AdS4-soliton ×S7 backgrounds in M-theory, we find that the tension of the emerging ETW branes behaves as t(Φ) ~ e−3Φ in the string frame. This indicates the existence of such ETW branes in the strongly coupled regime of type 0A string theory.

(2,0) theory on S5 × S1 and quantum M2 branes

The superconformal index Z of the 6d (2,0) theory on S5×S1 (which is related to the localization partition function of 5d SYM on S5) should be captured at large N by the quantum M2 brane theory in the dual M-theory background. Generalizing the type IIA string theory limit of this relation discussed in arXiv:2111.15493 and arXiv:2304.12340, we consider semiclassically quantized M2 branes in a half-supersymmetric 11d background which is a twisted product of thermal AdS7 and S4. We show that the leading non-perturbative term at large N is reproduced precisely by the 1-loop partition function of an “instanton” M2 brane wrapped on S1×S2 with S2⊂S4. Similarly, the (2,0) theory analog of the BPS Wilson loop expectation value is reproduced by the partition function of a “defect” M2 brane wrapped on thermal AdS⊂3 AdS7. We comment on a curious analogy of these results with similar computations in arXiv:2303.15207 and arXiv:2307.14112 of the partition function of quantum M2 branes in AdS×4S7/Zk which reproduced the corresponding localization expressions in the ABJM 3d gauge theory.

AdS2 near-horizons, defects, and string dualities

We construct a new family of $\text{AdS}_2\times S^3\times S^2$ solutions to Type IIB supergravity arising as near-horizon geometries of D1-F1-D3-D5-NS5-D7 brane intersections preserving 4 supersymmetries. We show that a subclass of these solutions asymptotes locally to the $\text{AdS}_6\times S^2\times \Sigma_2$ solution to Type IIB supergravity holographically dual to the five dimensional Sp(N) fixed point theory. This suggests that these solutions can be interpreted as D1-F1-D3 line defects within this CFT. Switching off the D7-branes, we act with $\text{SL}(2, \mathbb{R})$ to construct a second family of solutions that can be related to an $\text{AdS}_3\times S^3\times S^3$ class of M-theory backgrounds describing surface defects within the six dimensional (1,0) SCFT dual to $\text{AdS}_7/\mathbb{Z}_k\times S^4$. Finally, using non-Abelian T-duality we construct new classes of $\text{AdS}_2\times S^2\times S^2$ solutions to Type IIA supergravity with 4 supercharges and elaborate on their M-theory origin.

TCFHs, hidden symmetries and M-theory backgrounds

We present the twisted covariant form hierarchy (TCFH) of 11-dimensional supergravity and so demonstrate that the form bilinears of supersymmetric solutions satisfy a generalisation of the conformal Killing-Yano equation with resepct to the TCFH connection. We also compute the Killing-Stäckel, KY and closed conformal Killing-Yano tensors of all spherically symmetric M-branes that include the M2-brane, M5-brane, KK-monopole and pp-wave and demonstrate that their geodesic flows are completely integrable by giving all independent conserved charges in involution. We then find that all form bilinears of pp-wave and KK-monopole solutions generate (hidden) symmetries for spinning particle probes propagating on these backgrounds. Moreover, there are Killing spinors such that some of the 1-, 2- and 3-form bilinears of the M2-brane solution generate symmetries for spinning particle probes. We also explore the question on whether the form bilinears are sufficient to prove the integrability of particle probe dynamics on 11-dimensional supersymmetric backgrounds.

2-Group symmetries and M-theory

Quantum Field Theories engineered in M-theory can have 2-group symmetries, mixing 0-form and 1-form symmetry backgrounds in non-trivial ways. In this paper we develop methods for determining the 2-group structure from the boundary geometry of the M-theory background. We illustrate these methods in the case of 5d theories arising from M-theory on ordinary and generalised toric Calabi-Yau cones, including cases in which the resulting theory is non-Lagrangian. Our results confirm and elucidate previous results on 2-groups from geometric engineering.

On the M2–Brane Index on Noncommutative Crepant Resolutions

On certain M-theory backgrounds which are a circle fibration over a smooth Calabi–Yau the quantum theory of M2 branes can be studied in terms of the K-theoretic Donaldson–Thomas theory on the threefold. We extend this relation to noncommutative crepant resolutions. In this case the threefold develops a singularity and classical smooth geometry is replaced by the algebra of paths of a certain quiver. K-theoretic quantities on the quiver representation moduli space can be computed via toric localization and result in certain rational functions of the toric parameters. We discuss in particular the case of the conifold and certain orbifold singularities.

Generalised U-dual solutions in supergravity

We discuss the notion of generalised U-duality as a solution generating technique in supergravity. We demonstrate a method to take solutions of type IIA supergravity on a 3-sphere, with NSNS flux, to new solutions of 11-dimensional supergravity, using exceptional geometry techniques. These new solutions are characterised by an underlying 3-algebra structure, and generalise features of solutions obtained by non-abelian T-duality, which involve an underlying ordinary Lie algebra. We focus on an example where we start with the pp-F1-NS5 solution in type IIA supergravity. We discuss the properties of our resulting new solution, including the possibility of viewing it globally as a U-fold, and its M2 and M5 brane charges. In the extremal case, the new solution admits an AdS3 limit, which falls into a recently constructed class of M-theory AdS3 backgrounds — this provides a global completion of our solution with a well-defined holographic dual, similar to the global completions of non-abelian T-dual solutions. Our full solution is a 6-vector deformation of this AdS3 limit. We also explicitly solve the Killing spinor equation in the AdS3 limit, finding a frac{1}{2}hbox{-} mathrm{BPS} solution.

Non-BPS floating branes and bubbling geometries

We derive a non-BPS linear ansatz using the charged Weyl formalism in string and M-theory backgrounds. Generic solutions are static and axially-symmetric with an arbitrary number of non-BPS sources corresponding to various brane, momentum and KKm charges. Regular sources are either four-charge non-extremal black holes or smooth non-BPS bubbles. We construct several families such as chains of non-extremal black holes or smooth non-BPS bubbling geometries and study their physics. The smooth horizonless geometries can have the same mass and charges as non-extremal black holes. Furthermore, we find examples that scale towards the four-charge BPS black hole when the non-BPS parameters are taken to be small, but the horizon is smoothly resolved by adding a small amount of non-extremality.

Non-Abelian U duality at work

Non-abelian U-duality originates from the construction of exceptional Drinfel'd algebra (EDA), which extends the constriction of the classical Drinfel'd double. This symmetry is a natural extension of Poisson--Lie T-duality and is believed to be a symmetry of Type II string/M-theory or their low-energy effective theories. In this paper, we consider non-abelian U-dualities of 11- or 10-dimensional backgrounds starting with E${}_{n(n)}$ EDA with $n\leq 6$ with vanishing trombone gauging. The latter guarantees that all dual backgrounds satisfy the standard supergravity equations of motion. In particular, when the duality includes a timelike T-duality, we obtain solutions of M$^*$-theory or Type II$^*$ background equations, as expected. Also starting with coboundary EDA's we provide examples of generalised Yang--Baxter deformations of M-theory and Type IIB backgrounds. The obtained results provide explicit examples when non-abelian U-duality works well as a solution generating transformation.

Choices of spinor inner products on M-theory backgrounds

M-theory backgrounds in the form of unwarped compactifications with or without fluxes are considered. We construct the bilinear forms of supergravity Killing spinors for different choices of spinor inner products on these backgrounds. The equations satisfied by the bilinear forms and their decompositions into product manifolds are obtained for different inner product choices in the special case for which the spinors factorize. It is found that the AdS solutions can only appear for some special choices of spinor inner products on product manifolds. The reduction of bilinears of supergravity Killing spinors into the hidden symmetries of product manifolds which are Killing-Yano and closed conformal Killing-Yano forms for AdS solutions is shown. These hidden symmetries are lifted to eleven-dimensional backgrounds to find the hidden symmetries on them. The relation between the choices of spinor inner products, AdS solutions and hidden symmetries on M-theory backgrounds are investigated.

Defect CFT in the 6d (2,0) theory from M2 brane dynamics in AdS7 \xd7 S4

Surface operators in the 6d (2,0) theory at large N have a holographic description in terms of M2 branes probing the AdS7×S4 M-theory background. The most symmetric, 1/2-BPS, operator is defined over a planar or spherical surface, and it preserves a 2d superconformal group. This includes, in particular, an SO(2, 2) subgroup of d conformal transformations, so that the surface operator may be viewed as a conformal defect in the 6d theory. The dual M2 brane has an AdS3 induced geometry, reflecting the 2d conformal symmetry. Here we use the holographic description to extract the defect CFT data associated to the surface operator. The spectrum of transverse fluctuations of the M2 brane is found to be in one-to-one correspondence with a protected multiplet of operator insertions on the surface, which includes the displacement operator. We compute the one-loop determinants of fluctuations of the M2 brane, and extract the conformal anomaly coefficient of the spherical surface to order N0. We also briefly discuss the RG flow from the non-supersymmetric to the 1/2-BPS defect operator, and its consistency with a “b-theorem” for the defect CFT. Starting with the M2 brane action, we then use AdS3 Witten diagrams to compute the 4-point functions of the elementary bosonic insertions on the surface operator, and extract some of the defect CFT data from the OPE. The 4-point function is shown to satisfy superconformal Ward identities, and we discuss a related sub- sector of “twisted” scalar insertions, whose correlation functions are constrained by the residual superconformal symmetry.

Twisted Cohomotopy Implies M-Theory Anomaly Cancellation on 8-Manifolds

We consider the hypothesis that the C-field 4-flux and 7-flux forms in M-theory are in the image of the non-abelian Chern character map from the non-abelian generalized cohomology theory called J-twisted Cohomotopy theory. We prove for M2-brane backgrounds in M-theory on 8-manifolds that such charge quantization of the C-field in Cohomotopy theory implies a list of expected anomaly cancellation conditions, including: shifted C-field flux quantization and C-field tadpole cancellation, but also the DMW anomaly cancellation and the C-field's integral equation of motion.

Recurrence relations for symplectic realization of (quasi)-Poisson structures

It is known that any Poisson manifold can be embedded into a bigger space which admits a description in terms of a global symplectic structure. Such a procedure is known as a symplectic realization and has a number of important applications like the quantization of the original Poisson manifold. In the present paper we extend the above idea to the case of quasi-Poisson structures which should not necessarily satisfy the Jacobi identity. For any given quasi-Poisson structure we provide a closed recursive formula for local embedding functions and Darboux coordinates. Our construction is illustrated for the examples of the constant R-flux algebra, quasi-Poisson structure isomorphic to the commutator algebra of imaginary octonions and the non-geometric M-theory R-flux background. In all cases we derive explicit formulas for the symplectic realization and the corresponding expression for Darboux coordinates.

Exceptional mathcal{N}=3 theories

We present a new construction of four dimensional mathcal{N}=3 theories, given by M5 branes wrapping a T2 in an M-theory U-fold background. The resulting setup generalizes the one used in the usual class mathcal{S} construction of four dimensional theories by using an extra discrete symmetry on the M5 worldvolume. Together with the M-theory U-fold description of (0, 2) E-type six-dimensional SCFTs, this allows to construct new, exceptional, mathcal{N}=3 theories.

Non-geometric Kaluza-Klein monopoles and magnetic duals of M-theory R-flux backgrounds

We introduce a magnetic analogue of the seven-dimensional nonassociative octonionic R-flux algebra that describes the phase space of M2-branes in four-dimensional locally non-geometric M-theory backgrounds. We show that these two algebras are related by a Spin(7) automorphism of the 3-algebra that provides a covariant description of the eight-dimensional M-theory phase space. We argue that this algebra also underlies the phase space of electrons probing a smeared magnetic monopole in quantum gravity by showing that upon appropriate contractions, the algebra reduces to the noncommutative algebra of a spin foam model of three-dimensional quantum gravity, or to the nonassociative algebra of electrons in a background of uniform magnetic charge. We realise this set-up in M-theory as M-waves probing a delocalised Kaluza-Klein monopole, and show that this system also has a seven-dimensional phase space. We suggest that the smeared Kaluza-Klein monopole is non-geometric because it cannot be described by a local metric. This is the magnetic analogue of the local non-geometry of the R-flux background and arises because the smeared Kaluza-Klein monopole is described by a U(1)-gerbe rather than a U(1)-fibration.

Euclidean M-theory background dual to a three-dimensional scale-invariant field theory without conformal invariance

We show that eleven dimensional supergravity in Euclidean signature admits an exact classical solution with isometry corresponding to a three dimensional scale invariant field theory without conformal invariance. We also construct the holographic renormalization group flow that connects the known UV conformal fixed point and the new scale invariant but not conformal fixed point. In view of holography, the existence of such classical solutions suggests that the topologically twisted M2-brane gauge theory possesses a scale invariant but not conformal phase.

G2-structures and quantization of non-geometric M-theory backgrounds

We describe the quantization of a four-dimensional locally non-geometric M-theory background dual to a twisted three-torus by deriving a phase space star product for deformation quantization of quasi-Poisson brackets related to the nonassociative algebra of octonions. The construction is based on a choice of G2-structure which defines a nonassociative deformation of the addition law on the seven-dimensional vector space of Fourier momenta. We demonstrate explicitly that this star product reduces to that of the three-dimensional parabolic constant R-flux model in the contraction of M-theory to string theory, and use it to derive quantum phase space uncertainty relations as well as triproducts for the nonassociative geometry of the four-dimensional configuration space. By extending the G2-structure to a Spin(7)-structure, we propose a 3-algebra structure on the full eight-dimensional M2-brane phase space which reduces to the quasi-Poisson algebra after imposing a particular gauge constraint, and whose deformation quantisation simultaneously encompasses both the phase space star products and the configuration space triproducts. We demonstrate how these structures naturally fit in with previous occurences of 3-algebras in M-theory.

The exceptional generalised geometry of supersymmetric AdS flux backgrounds

We analyse generic AdS flux backgrounds preserving eight supercharges in $D=4$ and $D=5$ dimensions using exceptional generalised geometry. We show that they are described by a pair of globally defined, generalised structures, identical to those that appear for flat flux backgrounds but with different integrability conditions. We give a number of explicit examples of such "exceptional Sasaki-Einstein" backgrounds in type IIB supergravity and M-theory. In particular, we give the complete analysis of the generic AdS$_5$ M-theory backgrounds. We also briefly discuss the structure of the moduli space of solutions. In all cases, one structure defines a "generalised Reeb vector" that generates a Killing symmetry of the background corresponding to the R-symmetry of the dual field theory, and in addition encodes the generic contact structures that appear in the $D=4$ M-theory and $D=5$ type IIB cases. Finally, we investigate the relation between generalised structures and quantities in the dual field theory, showing that the central charge and R-charge of BPS wrapped-brane states are both encoded by the generalised Reeb vector, as well as discussing how volume minimisation (the dual of $a$- and $\mathcal{F}$-maximisation) is encoded.

Non-associativity in non-geometric string and M-theory backgrounds, the algebra of octonions, and missing momentum modes

We propose a non-associative phase space algebra for M-theory backgrounds with locally non-geometric fluxes based on the non-associative algebra of octonions. Our proposal is based on the observation that the non-associative algebra of the non-geometric R-flux background in string theory can be obtained by a proper contraction of the simple Malcev algebra generated by imaginary octonions. Furthermore, by studying a toy model of a four-dimensional locally non-geometric M-theory background which is dual to a twisted torus, we show that the non-geometric background is "missing" a momentum mode. The resulting seven-dimensional phase space can thus be naturally identified with the imaginary octonions. This allows us to interpret the full uncontracted algebra of imaginary octonions as the uplift of the string theory R-flux algebra to M-theory, with the contraction parameter playing the role of the string coupling constant $g_s$.

S-folds and 4d N $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 3 superconformal field theories

S-folds are generalizations of orientifolds in type IIB string theory, such that the geometric identifications are accompanied by non-trivial S-duality transformations. They were recently used by Garcia-Etxebarria and Regalado to provide the first construction of four dimensional N=3 superconformal theories. In this note, we classify the different variants of these N=3 preserving S-folds, distinguished by an analog of discrete torsion, using both a direct analysis of the different torsion classes and the compactification of the S-folds to three dimensional M-theory backgrounds. Upon adding D3-branes, these variants lead to different classes of N=3 superconformal field theories. We also analyze the holographic duals of these theories, and in particular clarify the role of discrete gauge and global symmetries in holography.