One of the key goals of string theory is to provide a uni cation of general relativity and quantum eld theory. In the pursuit of this goal it has become clear that the di erent string theories that have been discovered so far are all in fact, partial descriptions of a single theory. At strong coupling a new theory, called M-theory, is the correct description. M-theory includes gravitons, M2-branes and M5-branes. Up to now, the correct description of the M5-brane is outstanding. In this project some proposals for this theory are studied.
In particular, there is a proposal that D=5 maximally supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory can be used to provide a description of the world volume physics of the M5-brane. According to this proposal, instantons in D=5 maximally supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory are graviton excitations of the M theory. In this M.Sc dissertation the instanton solutions of D=5 maximally supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory are explored, with the goal of testing the above proposal. The dissertation begins with a review of the uses
of instantons in quantum mechanics. In particular, instantons are used to account for tunneling e ects within a path integral approach to quantum mechanics. The lifting of ground state degeneracies as well as the estimation of the lifetime of unstable states using instantons is developed. The quantization of gauge theories is reviewed in detail. The relevance of instantons for a semi-classical study of Yang-Mills
theory is explained. Finally, the relevance of instantons for D = 5 maximally supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory is considered.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:wits/oai:wiredspace.wits.ac.za:10539/14889 |
| Date | 07 July 2014 |
| Creators | Tahiridimbisoa, Nirina Maurice Hasina |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | application/pdf |
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