arXiv subjects

Eric Bergshoeff

Publications and source records attributed to Eric Bergshoeff.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

The M5-Brane Limit of Eleven-Dimensional Supergravity

We construct the M5-brane limit of eleven-dimensional supergravity. The resulting action is invariant under Galilean boosts and has a local scale symmetry. We also consider the limit of the equations of motion where we recover a Poisson-like equation arising from an M5-brane source but which does not follow from the non-relativistic action. We argue that the resulting theory describes gravitational fluctuations around a stack of M5-branes, represented by a trivial Minkowskian spacetime, but where the number of M5-branes is determined by the flux of a Lagrange multiplier field.

hep-th↗

arXiv2024

Massive Higher-Spin Fields in the Fractional Quantum Hall Effect

Incompressibility plays a key role in the geometric description of fractional quantum Hall fluids. It is naturally related to quantum area-preserving diffeomorphisms and the underlying Girvin-MacDonald-Plazman algebra, which gives rise to an emergent non-relativistic massive spin-2 mode propagating in the bulk. The corresponding metric tensor can be identified with a nematic order parameter for the bulk states. In the linearised regime with a flat background, it has been shown that this mode can be described by a spin-2 Schroedinger action. However, quantum area-preserving diffeomorphisms also suggest the existence of higher-spin modes that cannot be described through nematic fractional quantum Hall states. Here, we consider p-atic Hall phases, in which the corresponding p-atic order parameters are related to higher-rank symmetric tensors. We then show that in this framework, non-relativistic massive chiral higher-spin fields naturally emerge and that their dynamics is described by higher-spin Schroedinger actions. We finally show that these effective actions can be derived from relativistic massive higher-spin theories in 2+1 dimensions after taking a non-relativistic limit.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2023

Non-Relativistic Heterotic String Theory

In this work we consider heterotic-gravity as the low-energy approximation to heterotic string theory. We define a consistent non-relativistic limit of heterotic gravity that includes the Yang-Mills Chern-Simons term. We perform three tests on the heterotic limit: we use it to (i) derive the non-relativistic transformation rules, (ii) show the existence of a finite non-relativistic heterotic action and (iii) obtain the longitudinal non-relativistic T-duality rules. We show that in all these cases the limit procedure is well defined, free of divergences and leads to consistent non-trivial results. We comment on the interpretation of the T-duality rules in terms of a heterotic non-relativistic geometry underlying non-relativistic heterotic string theory.

hep-th↗

arXiv2023

Singular limits of spacetimes and their isometries

We consider spacetime metrics with a given (but quite generic) dependence on a dimensionful parameter such that in the 0 and infinity limits of that parameter the metric becomes singular. We study the isometry groups of the original spacetime metrics and of the singular metrics that arise in the limits and the corresponding symmetries of the motion of p-branes evolving in them, showing how the Killing vectors and their Lie algebras can be found in general. We illustrate our general results with several examples which include limits of anti-de Sitter spacetime in which the holographic screen is one of the singular metrics and of pp-waves.

hep-th↗

arXiv2023

$p$-brane Galilean and Carrollian Geometries and Gravities

We study $D$-dimensional $p$-brane Galilean geometries via the intrinsic torsion of their adapted connections. These non-Lorentzian geometries are examples of $G$-structures whose characteristic tensors consist of two degenerate ``metrics'' of ranks $(p+1)$ and $(D-p-1)$. We carry out the analysis in two different ways. In one way, inspired by Cartan geometry, we analyse in detail the space of intrinsic torsions (technically, the cokernel of a Spencer differential) as a representation of $G$, exhibiting for generic $(p,D)$ five classes of such geometries, which we then proceed to interpret geometrically. We show how to re-interpret this classification in terms of ($D-p-2$)-brane Carrollian geometries. The same result is recovered by methods inspired by similar results in the physics literature: namely by studying how far an adapted connection can be determined by the characteristic tensors and by studying which components of the torsion tensor do not depend on the connection. As an application, we derive a gravity theory with underlying $p$-brane Galilean geometry as a non-relativistic limit of Einstein--Hilbert gravity and discuss how it gives a gravitational realisation of some of the intrinsic torsion constraints found in this paper. Our results also have implications for gravity theories with an underlying ($D-p-2$)-brane Carrollian geometry.

hep-th↗

arXiv2023

Non-Lorentzian IIB Supergravity from a Polynomial Realization of SL(2,R)

We derive the action and symmetries of the bosonic sector of non-Lorentzian IIB supergravity by taking the non-relativistic string limit. We find that the bosonic field content is extended by a Lagrange multiplier that implements a restriction on the Ramond-Ramond fluxes. We show that the SL(2,R) transformation rules of non-Lorentzian IIB supergravity form a novel, nonlinear polynomial realization. Using classical invariant theory of polynomial equations and binary forms, we will develop a general formalism describing the polynomial realization of SL(2,R) and apply it to the special case of non-Lorentzian IIB supergravity. Using the same formalism, we classify all the relevant SL(2,R) invariants. Invoking other bosonic symmetries, such as the local boost and dilatation symmetry, we show how the bosonic part of the non-Lorentzian IIB supergravity action is formed uniquely from these SL(2,R) invariants. This work also points towards the concept of a non-Lorentzian bootstrap, where bosonic symmetries in non-Lorentzian supergravity are used to bootstrap the bosonic dynamics in Lorentzian supergravity, without considering the fermions.

hep-th↗

arXiv2022

Branched SL(2,Z) Duality

We investigate how SL(2,Z) duality is realized in nonrelativistic type IIB superstring theory, which is a self-contained corner of relativistic string theory. Within this corner, we realize manifestly SL(2,Z)-invariant (p,q)-string actions. The construction of these actions imposes a branching between strings of opposite charges associated with the two-form fields. The branch point is determined by these charges and the axion background field. Both branches must be incorporated in order to realize the full SL(2,Z) group. Besides these string actions, we also construct D-instanton and D3-brane actions that manifestly realize the branched SL(2,Z) symmetry.

hep-th↗

arXiv2022

Generalized Newton-Cartan Geometries for Particles and Strings

We discuss the generalized Newton-Cartan geometries that can serve as gravitational background fields for particles and strings. In order to enable us to define affine connections that are invariant under all the symmetries of the structure group, we describe torsionful geometries with independent torsion tensors. A characteristic feature of the non-Lorentzian geometries we consider is that some of the torsion tensors are so-called `intrinsic torsion' tensors that cannot be absorbed in any of the spin connections. Setting some components of these intrinsic torsion tensors to zero leads to constraints on the geometry. For both particles and strings, we discuss various such constraints that can be imposed consistently with the structure group symmetries. In this way, we reproduce several results in the literature.

hep-th↗

arXiv2022

A non-lorentzian primer

We review both the kinematics and dynamics of non-lorentzian theories and their associated geometries. First, we introduce non-lorentzian kinematical spacetimes and their symmetry algebras. Next, we construct actions describing the particle dynamics in some of these kinematical spaces using the method of nonlinear realisations. We explain the relation with the coadjoint orbit method. We continue discussing three types of non-lorentzian gravity theories: Galilei gravity, Newton-Cartan gravity and Carroll gravity. Introducing matter, we discuss electric and magnetic non-lorentzian field theories for three different spins: spin-0, spin-1/2 and spin-1, as limits of relativistic theories.

hep-th↗

arXiv2022

The Supersymmetric Neveu-Schwarz Branes of Non-Relativistic String Theory

We construct the basic Neveu-Schwarz (NS) brane solutions of non-relativistic string theory using longitudinal T-duality as a solution generating technique. Extending the NS background fields to a supergravity multiplet, we verify that all solutions we find are half-supersymmetric. The two perturbative solutions we find both have an interpretation as the background geometry outside a string-like object. Correspondingly, we refer to these non-Lorentzian backgrounds as winding string and unwound string solution. Whereas the winding string is part of the on-shell spectrum of non-relativistic string theory, the unwound string only makes sense off-shell where it mediates the instantaneous gravitational force. Seen from the nine-dimensional point of view, we find that the winding string solution is sourced by a non-relativistic massive particle and that the unwound string solution is sourced by a massless Galilean particle of zero colour and spin. We explain how these two string solutions fit into a discrete lightcone quantization of string theory. We shortly discuss the basic NS five-brane and Kaluza-Klein monopole solutions and show that they are both half-supersymmetric.

hep-th↗

arXiv2021

A Non-Relativistic Limit of NS-NS Gravity

We discuss a particular non-relativistic limit of NS-NS gravity that can be taken at the level of the action and equations of motion, without imposing any geometric constraints by hand. This relies on the fact that terms that diverge in the limit and that come from the Vielbein in the Einstein-Hilbert term and from the kinetic term of the Kalb-Ramond two-form field cancel against each other. This cancelling of divergences is the target space analogue of a similar cancellation that takes place at the level of the string sigma model between the Vielbein in the kinetic term and the Kalb-Ramond field in the Wess-Zumino term. The limit of the equations of motion leads to one equation more than the limit of the action, due to the emergence of a local target space scale invariance in the limit. Some of the equations of motion can be solved by scale invariant geometric constraints. These constraints define a so-called Dilatation invariant String Newton-Cartan geometry.

hep-th↗

arXiv2020

Non-Relativistic Supersymmetry on Curved Three-Manifolds

We construct explicit examples of non-relativistic supersymmetric field theories on curved Newton-Cartan three-manifolds. These results are obtained by performing a null reduction of four-dimensional supersymmetric field theories on Lorentzian manifolds and the Killing spinor equations that their supersymmetry parameters obey. This gives rise to a set of algebraic and differential Killing spinor equations that are obeyed by the supersymmetry parameters of the resulting three-dimensional non-relativistic field theories. We derive necessary and sufficient conditions that determine whether a Newton-Cartan background admits non-trivial solutions of these Killing spinor equations. Two classes of examples of Newton-Cartan backgrounds that obey these conditions are discussed. The first class is characterised by an integrable foliation, corresponding to so-called twistless torsional geometries, and includes manifolds whose spatial slices are isomorphic to the Poincar\'e disc. The second class of examples has a non-integrable foliation structure and corresponds to contact manifolds.

hep-th↗

arXiv2020

Carroll versus Galilei from a Brane Perspective

We show that our previous work on Galilei and Carroll gravity, apt for particles, can be generalized to Galilei and Carroll gravity theories adapted to p-branes (p = 0, 1, 2, ...). Within this wider brane perspective, we make use of a formal map, given in the literature, between the corresponding p-brane Carroll and Galilei algebras where the index describing the directions longitudinal (transverse) to the Galilei brane is interchanged with the index covering the directions transverse (longitudinal) to the Carroll brane with the understanding that the time coordinate is always among the longitudinal directions. This leads among other things in 3D to a map between Galilei particles and Carroll strings and in 4D to a similar map between Galilei strings and Carroll strings. We show that this formal map extends to the corresponding Lie algebra expansion of the Poincar\'e algebra and, therefore, to several extensions of the Carroll and Galilei algebras including central extensions. We use this formal map to construct several new examples of Carroll gravity actions. Furthermore, we discuss the symmetry between Carroll and Galilei at the level of the p-brane sigma model action and apply this formal symmetry to give several examples of 3D and 4D particles and strings in a curved Carroll background.

hep-th↗

arXiv2020

Non-relativistic limits and three-dimensional coadjoint Poincare gravity

We show that a recently proposed action for three-dimensional non-relativistic gravity can be obtained by taking the limit of a relativistic Lagrangian that involves the co-adjoint Poincare algebra. We point out the similarity of our construction with the way that three-dimensional Galilei Gravity and Extended Bargmann Gravity can be obtained by taking the limit of a relativistic Lagrangian that involves the Poincare algebra. We extend our results to the AdS case and we will see that there is a chiral decomposition both at the relativistic and non-relativistic level. We comment on possible further generalizations.

hep-th↗

arXiv2019

String Theory and String Newton-Cartan Geometry

Nonrelativistic string theory is described by a sigma model with a relativistic worldsheet and a nonrelativistic target spacetime geometry, that is called string Newton-Cartan geometry. In this paper we obtain string Newton-Cartan geometry as a limit of the Riemannian geometry of General Relativity with a fluxless two-form field. We then apply the same limit to relativistic string theory in curved background fields and show that it leads to nonrelativistic string theory in a string Newton-Cartan geometry coupled to a Kalb-Ramond and dilaton field background. Finally, we use our limiting procedure to study the spacetime equations of motion and the T-duality transformations of nonrelativistic string theory. Our results reproduce the recent studies of beta-functions and T-duality of nonrelativistic string theory obtained from the microscopic worldsheet definition of nonrelativistic string theory.

hep-th↗

arXiv2019

The different faces of branes in Double Field Theory

We show how the Wess-Zumino terms of the different branes in string theory can be embedded within double field theory. Crucial ingredients in our construction are the identification of the correct brane charge tensors and the use of the double field theory potentials that arise from dualizing the standard double field theory fields. This leads to a picture where under T-duality the brane does not change its worldvolume directions but where, instead, it shows different faces depending on whether some of the worldvolume and/or transverse directions invade the winding space. As a non-trivial by-product we show how the different Wess-Zumino terms are modified when the brane propagates in a background with a non-zero Romans mass parameter. Furthermore, we show that for non-zero mass parameter the brane creation process, when one brane passes through another brane, gets generalized to brane configurations that involve exotic branes as well.

hep-th↗

arXiv2019

Lie Algebra Expansions and Actions for Non-Relativistic Gravity

We show that the general method of Lie algebra expansions can be applied to re-construct several algebras and related actions for non-relativistic gravity that have occurred in the recent literature. We explain the method and illustrate its applications by giving several explicit examples. The method can be generalized to include the construction of actions for ultra-relativistic gravity, i.e. Carroll gravity, and non-relativistic supergravity as well.

hep-th↗

arXiv2019

On-shell versus Off-shell Equivalence in 3D Gravity

A given field theory action determines a set of field equations but other actions may yield equivalent field equations; if so they are on-shell equivalent. They may also be off-shell equivalent, being related by the elimination of auxiliary fields or by local field redefinitions, but this is not guaranteed, as we demonstrate by consideration of the linearized limit of 3D massive gravity models. Failure to appreciate this subtlety has led to incorrect conclusions in recent studies of the "Minimal Massive Gravity" model.

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