Topological M-theory as unification of form theories of gravity

2005/01/01 by Robbert Dijkgraaf, Sergei Gukov, Andrew Neitzke +1 · 2 citations
Mathematics · Physics and Astronomy · #Black Holes and Theoretical Physics #Combinatorics #Computer science #Cosmology and Gravitation Theories #Mathematical physics #Mathematics #Noncommutative and Quantum Gravity Theories #Physics #Pure mathematics #Theoretical physics #Topology (electrical circuits) #Unification

paper · pdf · doi:10.4310/atmp.2005.v9.n4.a5

openalex publication_date 2005/01/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/06

Abstract

We introduce a notion of topological M-theory and argue that it provides a unification of form theories of gravity in various dimensions. Its classical solutions involve G 2 holonomy metrics on 7-manifolds, obtained from a topological action for a 3-form gauge field introduced by Hitchin. We show that by reductions of this 7-dimensional theory, one can classically obtain 6-dimensional topological A and B models, the self-dual sector of loop quantum gravity in four dimensions, and Chern-Simons gravity in 3 dimensions. We also find that the 7dimensional M-theory perspective sheds some light on the fact that e-print archive: http://lanl.

Citations

• Quantum Background Independence In String Theory
• Two Dimensional Yang-Mills, Black Holes and Topological Strings
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• Quantum Calabi-Yau and Classical Crystals
• Higher-dimensional analogues of Donaldson-Witten theory
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• AN INVITATION TO LOOP QUANTUM GRAVITY

Cited by

• Generalised G2-structures and type IIB superstrings
• AN INVITATION TO LOOP QUANTUM GRAVITY
• Note on a duality of topological branes
• Hitchin functional [wikipedia]