The Loop Group of E_8 and K-Theory from 11d

TL;DR

This paper explores the role of an 11-dimensional E_8 bundle in M-Theory, linking it to K-theory and classifying string theory solitons, thereby offering a unified understanding of D-branes and solitons.

Contribution

It proposes a physical interpretation of the 11d E_8 bundle in M-Theory and connects it to K-theoretic classifications of string solitons, enhancing the understanding of soliton classification.

Findings

Classifies IIA solitons via LE_8 bundles in 10d.

Reproduces K-theoretic classification of D-branes.

Provides a symmetric treatment of NSNS and RR solitons.

Abstract

We examine the conjecture that an 11d E_8 bundle, appearing in the calculation of phases in the M-Theory partition function, plays a physical role in M-Theory, focusing on consequences for the classification of string theory solitons. This leads for example to a classification of IIA solitons in terms of that of LE_8 bundles in 10d. Since K(Z,2) approximates LE_8 up to \pi_{14}, this reproduces the K-Theoretic classification of IIA D-branes while treating NSNS and RR solitons more symmetrically and providing a natural interpretation of G_0 as the central extension of LE_8.