Open P-Branes

TL;DR

This paper explores how p-branes in string theory and supergravity can have boundaries on other p-branes, deriving rules from charge conservation and analyzing boundary dynamics and tensionless string phenomena.

Contribution

It establishes conditions for p-brane boundaries based on charge conservation and describes the boundary dynamics involving self-dual strings.

Findings

Membranes can have boundaries on fivebranes in 11D supergravity and IIA string theory.

Boundaries are governed by self-dual 6D strings.

Parallel fivebranes contain tensionless self-dual strings as they approach each other.

Abstract

It is shown that many of the $p$-branes of type II string theory and $d=11$ supergravity can have boundaries on other $p$-branes. The rules for when this can and cannot occur are derived from charge conservation. For example it is found that membranes in $d=11$ supergravity and IIA string theory can have boundaries on fivebranes. The boundary dynamics are governed by the self-dual $d=6$ string. A collection of $N$ parallel fivebranes contains $\half N(N-1)$ self-dual strings which become tensionless as the fivebranes approach one another.