E8 Gauge Theory, and a Derivation of K-Theory from M-Theory
Abstract
The partition function of Ramond-Ramond p-form fields in Type IIA supergravity on a ten-manifold X contains subtle phase factors that are associated with T-duality, self-duality, and the relation of the RR fields to K-theory. The analogous partition function of M-theory on X x S1 contains subtle phases that are similarly associated with E8 gauge theory. We analyze the detailed phase factors on the two sides and show that they agree, thereby testing M-theory/Type IIA duality as well as the K-theory formalism in an interesting way. We also show that certain D-brane states wrapped on nontrivial homology cycles are actually unstable, that (-1)^{F_L} symmetry in Type IIA superstring theory depends in general on a cancellation between a fermion anomaly and an anomaly of RR fields, and that Type IIA superstring theory with no wrapped branes is well-defined only on a spacetime with W_7=0.
- Publication:
-
arXiv e-prints
- Pub Date:
- May 2000
- DOI:
- 10.48550/arXiv.hep-th/0005090
- arXiv:
- arXiv:hep-th/0005090
- Bibcode:
- 2000hep.th....5090D
- Keywords:
-
- High Energy Physics - Theory
- E-Print:
- 95pp., harvmac b-mode, v2 minor corrections, v3 fixed eq. 8.40