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John Huerta

Publications and source records attributed to John Huerta.

14 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2023

Poincar\'e Duality and Supergravity

We study relative differential and integral forms on families of supermanifolds and their cohomology. We prove a relative Poincar\'e--Verdier duality and show that it relates the cohomology of differential and integral forms, admitting a concrete geometric realization via Berezin fiber integration. We further introduce the Poincar\'e--dual integral form associated to an embedded even family and prove that it satisfies the correct localization property. We then apply these results to supergravity, focusing on the $3d$ case. In this setting, we show that relative Poincar\'e duality provides the natural framework for encoding the data needed to relate a superspace formulation to the physical spacetime, thereby yielding a rigorous definition of picture changing operators used in the physics literature. Building on this, after a careful analysis of the space of fields and the relevant constraints, we prove that the component, superspace, and geometric formulation of the theory are all equivalent. Finally, under suitable hypotheses, we argue that our construction illustrates a general principle governing the mathematical formulation of classical field theories on supermanifolds.

math-ph↗
arXiv2021

Bundle gerbes on supermanifolds

We show that every bundle gerbe on a supermanifold decomposes into a bundle gerbe over the underlying manifold and a 2-form on the supermanifold. This decomposition is not canonical, but is determined by the choice of a projection map to the underlying manifold. Along the way, we prove the familiar cohomological classification theorems for bundle gerbes and bundle gerbes with connection in the context of supermanifolds.

math.DG↗
arXiv2019

How Space-Times Emerge from the Superpoint

We describe how the super Minkowski space-times relevant to string theory and M-theory, complete with their Lorentz metrics and spin structures, emerge from a much more elementary object: the superpoint. In the sense of higher structures, this comes from treating the superpoint as an object in a flavor of rational homotopy theory, and repeatedly constructing central extensions. We will fit this story into the larger picture of the brane bouquet of Fiorenza-Sati-Schreiber: string theories and membrane theories emerge from super Minkowski space-times in precisely the same way as the super Minkowski space-times themselves emerge from the superpoint. This note is adapted from a talk I gave at the Durham symposium Higher Structures in M-Theory.

hep-th↗
arXiv2019

Real ADE-equivariant (co)homotopy and Super M-branes

A key open problem in M-theory is the identification of the degrees of freedom that are expected to be hidden at ADE-singularities in spacetime. Comparison with the classification of D-branes by K-theory suggests that the answer must come from the right choice of generalized cohomology theory for M-branes. Here we show that real equivariant cohomotopy on superspaces is a consistent such choice, at least rationally. After explaining this new approach, we demonstrate how to use Elmendorf's theorem in equivariant homotopy theory to reveal ADE-singularities as part of the data of equivariant 4-sphere-valued super-cocycles on 11d super-spacetime. We classify these super-cocycles and find a detailed black brane scan that enhances the entries of the old brane scan to cascades of fundamental brane super-cocycles on strata of intersecting black M-brane species. We find that on each singular stratum the black brane's instanton contribution, namely its super Nambu-Goto/Green-Schwarz action, appears as the homotopy datum associated to the morphisms in the orbit category.

hep-th↗
arXiv2018

M-theory from the Superpoint

The "brane scan" classifies consistent Green--Schwarz strings and membranes in terms of the invariant cocycles on super-Minkowski spacetimes. The "brane bouquet" generalizes this by consecutively forming the invariant higher central extensions induced by these cocycles, which yields the complete brane content of string/M-theory, including the D-branes and the M5-brane, as well as the various duality relations between these. This raises the question whether the super-Minkowski spacetimes themselves arise as maximal invariant central extensions. Here we prove that they do. Starting from the simplest possible super-Minkowski spacetime, the superpoint, which has no Lorentz structure and no spinorial structure, we give a systematic process of repeated "maximal invariant central extensions", and show that it discovers the super-Minkowski spacetimes that contain superstrings, culminating in the 10- and 11-dimensional super-Minkowski spacetimes of string/M-theory and leading directly to the brane bouquet.

hep-th↗
arXiv2016

Division Algebras and Supersymmetry I

Supersymmetry is deeply related to division algebras. Nonabelian Yang-Mills fields minimally coupled to massless spinors are supersymmetric if and only if the dimension of spacetime is 3, 4, 6 or 10. The same is true for the Green-Schwarz superstring. In both cases, supersymmetry relies on the vanishing of a certain trilinear expression involving a spinor field. The reason for this, in turn, is the existence of normed division algebras in dimensions 1, 2, 4 and 8: the real numbers, complex numbers, quaternions and octonions. Here we provide a self-contained account of how this works.

hep-th↗
arXiv2015

Division Algebras and Supersymmetry II

Starting from the four normed division algebras - the real numbers, complex numbers, quaternions and octonions - a systematic procedure gives a 3-cocycle on the Poincare Lie superalgebra in dimensions 3, 4, 6 and 10. A related procedure gives a 4-cocycle on the Poincare Lie superalgebra in dimensions 4, 5, 7 and 11. In general, an (n+1)-cocycle on a Lie superalgebra yields a "Lie n-superalgebra": that is, roughly speaking, an n-term chain complex equipped with a bracket satisfying the axioms of a Lie superalgebra up to chain homotopy. We thus obtain Lie 2-superalgebras extending the Poincare superalgebra in dimensions 3, 4, 6, and 10, and Lie 3-superalgebras extending the Poincare superalgebra in dimensions 4, 5, 7 and 11. As shown in Sati, Schreiber and Stasheff's work on higher gauge theory, Lie 2-superalgebra connections describe the parallel transport of strings, while Lie 3-superalgebra connections describe the parallel transport of 2-branes. Moreover, in the octonionic case, these connections concisely summarize the fields appearing in 10- and 11-dimensional supergravity.

hep-th↗
arXiv2015

An Invitation to Higher Gauge Theory

In this easy introduction to higher gauge theory, we describe parallel transport for particles and strings in terms of 2-connections on 2-bundles. Just as ordinary gauge theory involves a gauge group, this generalization involves a gauge '2-group'. We focus on 6 examples. First, every abelian Lie group gives a Lie 2-group; the case of U(1) yields the theory of U(1) gerbes, which play an important role in string theory and multisymplectic geometry. Second, every group representation gives a Lie 2-group; the representation of the Lorentz group on 4d Minkowski spacetime gives the Poincaré 2-group, which leads to a spin foam model for Minkowski spacetime. Third, taking the adjoint representation of any Lie group on its own Lie algebra gives a 'tangent 2-group', which serves as a gauge 2-group in 4d BF theory, which has topological gravity as a special case. Fourth, every Lie group has an 'inner automorphism 2-group', which serves as the gauge group in 4d BF theory with cosmological constant term. Fifth, every Lie group has an 'automorphism 2-group', which plays an important role in the theory of nonabelian gerbes. And sixth, every compact simple Lie group gives a 'string 2-group'. We also touch upon higher structures such as the 'gravity 3-group' and the Lie 3-superalgebra that governs 11-dimensional supergravity.

hep-th↗
arXiv2015

G2 and the Rolling Ball

Understanding the exceptional Lie groups as the symmetry groups of simpler objects is a long-standing program in mathematics. Here, we explore one famous realization of the smallest exceptional Lie group, G2. Its Lie algebra acts locally as the symmetries of a ball rolling on a larger ball, but only when the ratio of radii is 1:3. Using the split octonions, we devise a similar, but more global, picture of G2: it acts as the symmetries of a 'spinorial ball rolling on a projective plane', again when the ratio of radii is 1:3. We explain this ratio in simple terms, use the dot product and cross product of split octonions to describe the G2 incidence geometry, and show how a form of geometric quantization applied to this geometry lets us recover the imaginary split octonions and these operations.

math.DG↗
arXiv2015

Division Algebras and Supersymmetry IV

Recent work applying higher gauge theory to the superstring has indicated the presence of 'higher symmetry', and the same methods work for the super-2-brane. In the previous paper in this series, we used a geometric technique to construct a 'Lie 2-supergroup' extending the Poincare supergroup in precisely those spacetime dimensions where the classical Green-Schwarz superstring makes sense: 3, 4, 6 and 10. In this paper, we use the same technique to construct a 'Lie 3-supergroup' extending the Poincare supergroup in precisely those spacetime dimensions where the classical Green-Schwarz super-2-brane makes sense: 4, 5, 7 and 11. Because the geometric tools are identical, our focus here is on the precise definition of a Lie 3-supergroup.

hep-th↗
arXiv2011

Division Algebras and Supersymmetry III

Recent work applying higher gauge theory to the superstring has indicated the presence of `higher symmetry'. Infinitesimally, this is realized by a `Lie 2-superalgebra' extending the Poincare superalgebra in precisely the dimensions where the classical supersymmetric string makes sense: 3, 4, 6 and 10. In the previous paper in this series, we constructed this Lie 2-superalgebra using the normed division algebras. In this paper, we use an elegant geometric technique to integrate this Lie 2-superalgebra to a `Lie 2-supergroup' extending the Poincare supergroup in the same dimensions. Briefly, a `Lie 2-superalgebra' is a two-term chain complex with a bracket like a Lie superalgebra, but satisfying the Jacobi identity only up to chain homotopy. Simple examples of Lie 2-superalgebras arise from 3-cocycles on Lie superalgebras, and it is in this way that we constructed the Lie 2-superalgebra above. Because this 3-cocycle is supported on a nilpotent subalgebra, our geometric technique applies, and we obtain a Lie 2-supergroup integrating the Lie 2-superalgebra in the guise of a smooth 3-cocycle on the Poincare supergroup.

hep-th↗
arXiv2011

Division Algebras, Supersymmetry and Higher Gauge Theory

From the four normed division algebras--the real numbers, complex numbers, quaternions and octonions, of dimension k=1, 2, 4 and 8, respectively--a systematic procedure gives a 3-cocycle on the Poincare superalgebra in dimensions k+2=3, 4, 6 and 10, and a 4-cocycle on the Poincare superalgebra in dimensions k+3=4, 5, 7 and 11. The existence of these cocycles follow from spinor identities that hold only in these dimensions, and which are closely related to the existence of the superstring in dimensions k+2, and the super-2-brane in dimensions k+3. In general, an (n+1)-cocycle on a Lie superalgebra yields a `Lie n-superalgebra': that is, roughly, an n-term chain complex equipped with a bracket satisfying the axioms of a Lie superalgebra up to chain homotopy. We thus obtain Lie 2-superalgebras extending the Poincare superalgebra in dimensions k+2, and Lie 3-superalgebras extending the Poincare superalgebra in dimensions k+3. We present evidence, based on the work of Sati, Schreiber and Stasheff, that these Lie n-superalgebras describe infinitesimal `higher symmetries' of the superstring and 2-brane. Generically, integrating a Lie n-superalgebra to a Lie n-supergroup yields a `Lie n-supergroup' that is hugely infinite-dimensional. However, when the Lie n-superalgebra is obtained from an (n+1)-cocycle on a nilpotent Lie superalgebra, there is a geometric procedure to integrate the cocycle to one on the corresponding nilpotent Lie supergroup. In general, a smooth (n+1)-cocycle on a supergroup yields a `Lie n-supergroup': that is, a weak n-group internal to supermanifolds. Using our geometric procedure to integrate the 3-cocycle in dimensions k+2, we obtain a Lie 2-supergroup extending the Poincare supergroup in those dimensions, and similarly integrating the 4-cocycle in dimensions k+3, we obtain a Lie 3-supergroup extending the Poincare supergroup in those dimensions.

math-ph↗
arXiv2010

The Algebra of Grand Unified Theories

The Standard Model of particle physics may seem complicated and arbitrary, but it has hidden patterns that are revealed by the relationship between three "grand unified theories": theories that unify forces and particles by extending the Standard Model symmetry group U(1) x SU(2) x SU(3) to a larger group. These three theories are Georgi and Glashow's SU(5) theory, Georgi's theory based on the group Spin(10), and the Pati-Salam model based on the group SU(2) x SU(2) x SU(4). In this expository account for mathematicians, we explain only the portion of these theories that involves finite-dimensional group representations. This allows us to reduce the prerequisites to a bare minimum while still giving a taste of the profound puzzles that physicists are struggling to solve.

hep-th↗