M2-Branes and Background Fields

TL;DR

This paper explores how multiple M2-branes interact with background gauge fields in eleven-dimensional supergravity, revealing how flux terms induce mass in the effective field theory.

Contribution

It introduces a generalized Myers flux-term framework for M2-branes coupled to background fields, including fermionic interactions and background curvature effects.

Findings

Flux terms lead to mass generation in the effective theory

Coupling of M2-branes to background fields is explicitly formulated

Background curvature effects are incorporated into the M2-brane dynamics

Abstract

We discuss the coupling of multiple M2-branes to the background 3-form and 6-form gauge fields of eleven-dimensional supergravity, including the coupling of the Fermions. In particular we show in detail how a natural generalization of the Myers flux-terms, along with the resulting curvature of the background metric, leads to mass terms in the effective field theory.