Sources for Chern-Simons theories

TL;DR

This paper investigates how Chern-Simons theories couple to matter sources, revealing that only certain p-branes (p=2n) naturally interact without breaking gauge or supersymmetry, unlike in supergravity or string theory.

Contribution

It demonstrates that standard membrane couplings do not apply to CS theories, identifying specific p-branes compatible with these theories and their symmetry-breaking effects.

Findings

Only p=2n branes couple naturally to CS theories.

Coupling to membranes in CS theories differs from supergravity.

p-branes with p=2n break gauge and supersymmetry in a controlled way.

Abstract

The coupling between Chern-Simons theories and matter sources defined by branes of different dimensionalities is examined. It is shown that the standard coupling to membranes, such as the one found in supergravity or in string theory, does not operate in the same way for CS theories; the only p-branes that naturally couple seem to be those with p=2n; these p-branes break the gauge symmetry (and supersymmetry) in a controlled and sensible manner.