This thesis explores the geometry of string theory backgrounds and the nongeometric features of string theory that arise due to T-duality. For this reason, it is divided into two complementary parts. Part I deals with the superalgebras of symmetries of string theory and M-theory backgrounds, the so-called Killing superalgebras. It is shown that one can define a Lie superalgebra consisting of the infinitesimal field-preserving isometries and the supersymmetries of the background. We also explore the extension of a Killing superalgebra with brane charges. Part II deals with non-geometric backgrounds. In particular, we adopt the framework of the doubled geometry, also known as the doubled torus. We analyze the hamiltonian dynamics of the system and quantize a model T-fold. Finally we extended the doubled torus system to include worldsheet supersymmetry. Throughout part II, we focus on the equivalence, classical and quantum, of the doubled formalism with the conventional formulation.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:562245 |
| Date | January 2008 |
| Creators | Moutsopoulos, George |
| Contributors | Figueroa O’Farrill, Jose |
| Publisher | University of Edinburgh |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://hdl.handle.net/1842/3167 |
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