Covariant Quantization of D-branes

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that kappa-symmetry enables covariant quantization of D-branes when the ground state is massive, providing a supersymmetric, Lorentz covariant framework for BPS states, exemplified by the D-0-brane.

Contribution

It introduces a covariant quantization method for D-branes using kappa-symmetry, applicable to BPS states, with a detailed Hamiltonian analysis for D-p-branes.

Findings

Covariant quantization is possible for D-branes with a massive ground state.

A Hamiltonian analysis explains the supersymmetric and Lorentz covariant description of BPS states.

The covariant quantization of the D-0-brane is explicitly demonstrated.

Abstract

We have found that kappa-symmetry allows a covariant quantization provided the ground state of the theory is strictly massive. For D-p-branes a Hamiltonian analysis is performed to explain the existence of a manifestly supersymmetric and Lorentz covariant description of the BPS states of the theory. The covariant quantization of the D-0-brane is presented as an example.