Multiple M2-branes and the embedding tensor

2008/04/17 by Eric Bergshoeff, Eric A. Bergshoeff, M. de Roo +2 · 4 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Black Holes and Theoretical Physics #Cosmology and Gravitation Theories #Particle physics theoretical and experimental studies #hep-th

paper · pdf · doi:10.1088/0264-9381/25/14/142001

published as Class.Quant.Grav.25:142001,2008 · 11 pages, v2: references and discussion about G2 gauging added

arxiv created 2008/04/17 · openalex publication_date 2008/06/19 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01

Abstract

We show that the Bagger-Lambert theory of multiple M2-branes fits into the general construction of maximally supersymmetric gauge theories using the embedding tensor technique. We apply the embedding tensor technique in order to systematically obtain the consistent gaugings of N=8 superconformal theories in 2+1 dimensions. This leads to the Bagger-Lambert theory, with the embedding tensor playing the role of the four-index antisymmetric tensor defining a ``3-algebra''. We present an alternative formulation of the theory in which the embedding tensor is replaced by a set of unrestricted scalar fields. By taking these scalar fields to be parity-odd, the Chern-Simons term can be made parity-invariant.

Citations

• Kac-Moody spectrum of (half-)maximal supergravities
• Gauged N=4 supergravities
• Maximal Gauged Supergravity in Three Dimensions
• Selfdual strings and loop space Nahm equations
• Gauge symmetry and supersymmetry of multiple M2-branes
• 𝒩 = 8 superconformal Chern-Simons theories

Cited by

• On the structure of k -Lie algebras
• An N=1 superfield action for M2 branes
• Janus field theories from non-linear BF theories for multiple M2-branes
• Three-algebras inN=5, 6 superconformal Chern-Simons theories: Representations and relations