Octonions and M-theory
Abstract
We explain how structures related to octonions are ubiquitous in M-theory. All the exceptional Lie groups, and the projective Cayley line and plane appear in M-theory. Exceptional G_2-holonomy manifolds show up as compactifying spaces, and are related to the M2 Brane and 3-form. We review this evidence, which comes from the initial 11-dim structures. Relations between these objects are stressed, when extant and understood. We argue for the necessity of a better understanding of the role of the octonions themselves (in particular non-associativity) in M-theory.
- Publication:
-
arXiv e-prints
- Pub Date:
- January 2003
- DOI:
- 10.48550/arXiv.hep-th/0301037
- arXiv:
- arXiv:hep-th/0301037
- Bibcode:
- 2003hep.th....1037B
- Keywords:
-
- High Energy Physics - Theory
- E-Print:
- 6 pages, iopart.sty, Presented at the the 24th International Colloquium on Group-Theoretical Methods in Physics. Paris, July 15-22, 2.002