Non-abelian target space duality and its effect on low energy string backgrounds is investigated, with particular emphasis on Taub-NUT space. The dual solutions are analysed and the physical effects of the duality are discussed, along with the interrelationship between successive applications of target space duality. A full quantum mechanical analysis of non-abelian duality is then considered. Conditions for the transformation to be anomaly free are presented, along with the quantum corrections to the standard non-abelian duality formulae. A low energy analysis is also performed. The study of <I>D</I>-branes creates an interest in massive sigma models. The supersymmetric abelian target space duals of such models are constructed. From the dual models the correct form of the dual potentials may be inferred. Finally the effects of the duality on the solitons of the massive model are discussed. The general problem of branes in twelve dimensions is studied. A supersymmetric action principle is formulated, but in order to do this the notions of supersymmetric must generalised. The resulting (2 + 2)- brane lives in a new type of superspace with two timelike directions. It is then shown that the traditional spacetime strings and membranes may be obtained by dimensional reduction. Once one has adapted to the possibility that there are many different supersymmetry theories, it is natural to attempt a classification. Details of such a procedure are given, and the corresponding superspaces constructed. In addition, complete brane scans are given for branes in any spacetime dimension and signature, and the algebras for which they are possible. The (2+2)-brane requires there to be two time directions. The concrete properties which any supersymmetric theory with two times must have are thus discussed. The BPS states of the two-time algebras are investigated in an analysis similar to that used in supergravity. Consistency conditions are discussed and the intersection properties of the branes detailed.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:603981 |
| Date | January 1998 |
| Creators | Hewson, S. F. |
| Publisher | University of Cambridge |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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