2009/02/02 by C. Lovelace, Lovelace, C.
Physics and Astronomy · #Experimental and Theoretical Physics Studies #Origins and Evolution of Life #hep-th
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.0902.0300
11 pages. Section 5 changed: some confusion corrected and explanations added
arxiv created 2009/02/13 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01
The key to membrane theory is to enlarge the diffeomorphism group until 4D gravity becomes almost topological. Just one ghost survives and its central charges can cancel against matter. A simple bosonic membrane emerges, but its flat D = 28 target space is unstable. Adding supersymmetry ought to give calculable (2,2) membranes in 12 target dimensions, but (2,1) membranes won't work.