arXiv subjects

Katrin Becker

Publications and source records attributed to Katrin Becker.

62 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv1997

On Graviton Scattering Amplitudes in M-Theory

We compute graviton scattering amplitudes in M-theory using Feynman rules for a scalar particle coupled to gravity in eleven dimensions. The processes that we consider describe the single graviton exchange and the double graviton exchange, that in M(atrix) theory correspond to the $v^4/r^7$- and $v^6/r^{14}$-term respectively. We further show that the $ v^6/r^{14}$-term appearing in M(atrix) theory at two-loops can be obtained from the covariant eleven-dimensional four-graviton amplitude. Finally, we calculate the $v^8/r^{18}$-term appearing at two-loops in M(atrix) theory. It has been previously conjectured that this term is related to a four graviton scattering amplitude involving the $R^4$-vertex of M-theory.

hep-th↗

arXiv1997

Testing M(atrix)-Theory at Two Loops

I discuss the relation between M-theory and M(atrix)-theory in flat space by considering the effective potential for the scattering of two groups of D0-branes in both theories. An explicit calculation of this potential up to two loop order in M(atrix)-theory reveals a fascinating agreement. Lecture given at Strings '97; June 17, 1997.

hep-th↗

arXiv1997

A Two-Loop Test of M(atrix) Theory

We consider the scattering of two Dirichlet zero-branes in M(atrix) theory. Using the formulation of M(atrix) theory in terms of ten-dimensional super Yang-Mills theory dimensionally reduced to $(0+1)$-dimensions, we obtain the effective (velocity dependent) potential describing these particles. At one-loop we obtain the well known result for the leading order of the effective potential $V_{eff}\sim v^4/r^7$, where $v$ and $r$ are the relative velocity and distance between the two zero-branes respectively. A calculation of the effective potential at two-loops shows that no renormalizations of the $v^4$-term of the effective potential occur at this order.

hep-th↗

arXiv1996

M-Theory on Eight-Manifolds

We show that in certain compactifications of ${\cal M}$-theory on eight-manifolds to three-dimensional Minkowski space-time the four-form field strength can have a non-vanishing expectation value, while an $N=2$ supersymmetry is preserved. For these compactifications a warp factor for the metric has to be taken into account. This warp factor is non-trivial in three space-time dimensions due to Chern-Simons corrections to the fivebrane Bianchi identity. While the original metric on the internal space is not Kähler, it can be conformally transformed to a metric that is Kähler and Ricci flat, so that the internal manifold has $SU(4)$ holonomy.

hep-th↗

arXiv1996

Boundaries in M-Theory

We formulate boundary conditions for an open membrane that ends on the fivebrane of {\cal M}-theory. We show that the dynamics of the eleven-dimensional fivebrane can be obtained from the quantization of a ``small membrane'' that is confined to a single fivebrane and which moves with the speed of light. This shows that the eleven-dimensional fivebrane has an interpretation as a $D$-brane of an open supermembrane as has recently been proposed by Strominger and Townsend. We briefly discuss the boundary dynamics of an infinitely extended planar membrane that is stretched between two parallel fivebranes

hep-th↗

arXiv1995

Fivebranes, Membranes and Non-Perturbative String Theory

Non-perturbative instanton corrections to the moduli space geometry of type IIA string theory compactified on a Calabi-Yau space are derived and found to contain order $e^{-1/g_s}$ contributions, where $g_s$ is the string coupling. The computation reduces to a weighted sum of supersymmetric extremal maps of strings, membranes and fivebranes into the Calabi-Yau space, all three of which enter on equal footing. It is shown that a supersymmetric 3-cycle is one for which the pullback of the Kähler form vanishes and the pullback of the holomorphic three-form is a constant multiple of the volume element. Quantum mirror symmetry relates the sum in the IIA theory over supersymmetric, odd-dimensional cycles in the Calabi-Yau space to a sum in the IIB theory over supersymmetric, even-dimensional cycles in the mirror.

hep-th↗

arXiv1995

Three-Dimensional Supergravity and the Cosmological Constant

Witten has argued that in $2+1$ dimensions local supersymmetry can ensure the vanishing of the cosmological constant without requiring the equality of bose and fermi masses. We find that this mechanism is implemented in a novel fashion in the (2+1)-dimensional supersymmetric abelian Higgs model coupled to supergravity. The vortex solitons are annihilated by half of the supersymmetry transformations. The covariantly constant spinors required to define these supersymmetries exist by virtue of a surprising cancellation between the Aharonov-Bohm phase and the phase associated with the holonomy of the spin connection. However the other half of the supersymmetry transformations, whose actions ordinarily generate the soliton supermultiplet, are not well-defined and bose-fermi degeneracy is consequently absent in the soliton spectrum.

hep-th↗

arXiv1994

Strings, Black Holes and Conformal Field Theory

The SL(2,R)/U(1) gauged Wess-Zumino-Witten model is an exact conformal field theory describing a black hole in two-dimensional space-time. The free field approach of Bershadsky and Kutasov is a suitable formulation of this CFT in order to compute physically interesting quantities of this black hole. We find the space-time interpretation of this model for k=9/4 and show that it reproduces the metric and the dilaton found by Dijkgraaf, E. Verlinde and H. Verlinde in the mini-superspace approximation. We compute the two- and three-point functions of tachyons interacting in the black hole background and analyse in detail the form of the four-point tachyon scattering amplitude. We discuss the connection to the c=1 matrix model and the deformed matrix model of Jevicki and Yoneya.

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