Strong Coupling Dynamics of Branes from M-theory

TL;DR

This paper explores the strong coupling behavior of various branes and orientifold planes in M-theory, revealing stable configurations, finite string masses at coincidence, and deriving gravitational interactions.

Contribution

It demonstrates the existence of stable brane-antibrane configurations at strong coupling and derives gravitational interactions from M-theory.

Findings

Stable brane-antibrane configurations at arbitrary separation.

Finite mass of open strings at brane coincidence.

Derived anomalous gravitational interactions from M-theory.

Abstract

We study some aspects of the strong coupling dynamics of Dirichlet six branes, anti- six branes, and orientifold planes by using the equivalence of type IIA string theory and M-theory on S^1. In the strong coupling limit there exists static configuration of brane and anti-brane at arbitrary separation, suspended in an external magnetic field. The mass of the open string stretched between the brane and the anti-brane approaches a finite positive value even when the branes coincide. Similar result is obtained for a Dirichlet six brane on top of an orientifold six plane. We also derive the anomalous gravitational interaction on the brane and the orientifold plane from M-theory.