On Matrix Geometry and Effective Actions

TL;DR

This paper systematically explores matrix actions and their symmetries, revealing a generalized gauge invariance that unifies diffeomorphisms and gauge transformations, with applications to D-branes and emergent space models.

Contribution

It introduces a formalism for matrix reparameterizations, extending gauge invariance concepts, and applies it to non-abelian D-brane actions in supergravity backgrounds, verifying Myers' formulas.

Findings

Generalized gauge invariance encompasses diffeomorphisms and gauge symmetries.

Explicit checks confirm Myers' formulas' consistency with supergravity.

Emergent space phenomena are explained via matrix effective actions.

Abstract

We provide an elementary systematic discussion of single-trace matrix actions and of the group of matrix reparameterization that acts on them. The action of this group yields a generalized notion of gauge invariance which encompasses ordinary diffeomorphism and gauge invariances. We apply the formalism to non-abelian D-brane actions in arbitrary supergravity backgrounds, providing in particular explicit checks of the consistency of Myers' formulas with supergravity gauge invariances. We also draw interesting consequences for emergent space models based on the study of matrix effective actions. For example, in the case of the AdS_5XS^5 background, we explain how the standard tensor transformation laws of the supergravity fields under ordinary diffeomorphisms emerge from the D-instanton effective action in this background.