M-brane Models from Non-Abelian Gerbes

TL;DR

This paper interprets M-brane models using higher gauge theories with Lie 2-groups, unifying M2- and M5-brane descriptions and enabling supersymmetric generalizations of tensor multiplet equations.

Contribution

It introduces a framework connecting M-brane models to non-abelian gerbes via higher gauge theories, unifying gauge structures of M2- and M5-branes.

Findings

M-brane models can be viewed as higher gauge theories involving Lie 2-groups.

Unified gauge structure for M2- and M5-brane models.

Supersymmetric generalization of tensor multiplet equations achieved.

Abstract

We make the observation that M-brane models defined in terms of 3-algebras can be interpreted as higher gauge theories involving Lie 2-groups. Such gauge theories arise in particular in the description of non-abelian gerbes. This observation allows us to put M2- and M5-brane models on equal footing, at least as far as the gauge structure is concerned. Furthermore, it provides a useful framework for various generalizations; in particular, it leads to a fully supersymmetric generalization of a previously proposed set of tensor multiplet equations.