arXiv · 0812.4694
Test membranes in Riemann-Cartan spacetimes
Abstract
The dynamics of brane-like extended objects in spacetimes with torsion is derived from the conservation equations of stress-energy and spin tensors. Thus obtained world-sheet equations are applied to macroscopic test membranes made of spinning matter. Specifically, we consider membranes with maximally symmetric distribution of stress-energy and spin. These are characterized by two constants only: the tension and spin magnitude. By solving the world-sheet equations, we discover a similarity between such membranes in Riemann-Cartan backgrounds, and string theory membranes in low-energy string backgrounds. In the second part of the paper, we apply this result to cylindrical membranes wrapped around the extra compact dimension of a $(D+1)$-dimensional spacetime. In the narrow membrane limit, we discover how effective macroscopic strings couple to torsion. An observed similarity with the string sigma model is noted.
Explore related subjects
Keep this discovery
Milovan Vasilic, Marko Vojinovic. 2010-03-10. Test membranes in Riemann-Cartan spacetimes. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevd.81.024025
Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.