Domain walls and M2-branes partition functions: M-theory and ABJM Theory

TL;DR

This paper investigates the BPS counting functions of M-string configurations involving M5- and M2-branes, revealing recursive structures and interpreting domain wall degrees of freedom via supersymmetric WZW models, with applications to ABJM theory.

Contribution

It introduces a recursive framework for M-string free energies and connects M-string degrees of freedom to supersymmetric WZW models, providing new insights into M-theory and ABJM theory.

Findings

Recursive structure in free energies of M-string configurations

Interpretation of domain wall degrees of freedom via supersymmetric WZW models

Comparison of elliptic genus computations between M-theory and ABJM model

Abstract

We study the BPS counting functions (free energies) of the M-string configurations. We consider separated M5-branes along with M2-branes stretched between them, with M5-branes acting as domain walls interpolating different configurations of M2-branes. We find recursive structure in the free energies of these configurations. The M-string degrees of freedom on the domain walls are interpreted in terms of a pair of interacting supersymmetric WZW models. We also compute the elliptic genus of the M-string in a toy model of the ABJM theory and compare it with the M-theory computation.