Classification of p-branes, NUTs, Waves and Intersections

We determine an intersection rule for extremal p-branes which are localized in their relative transverse coordinates by solving, in a purely bosonic context, the equations of motion of gravity coupled to a dilaton and n-form field strengths. The unique algebraic rule we obtained does not lead to new solutions while it manages to collect, in a systematic way, most of the solutions (all those compatible with our ansatz) that have appeared in the literature. We then consider bou...

BPS configurations of intersecting branes have many applications in string theory. We attempt to provide an introductory and pedagogical review of supergravity solutions corresponding to orthogonal BPS intersections of branes with an emphasis on eleven and ten space-time dimensions. Recent work on BPS solutions corresponding to non-orthogonally intersecting branes is also discussed. These notes are based on lectures given at the APCTP Winter School "Dualities of Gauge and Str...

We give a model-independent derivation of general intersecting rules for non-extreme $p$-branes in arbitrary dimensions $D$. This is achieved by directly solving bosonic field equations for supergravity coupled to a dilaton and antisymmetric tensor fields with minimal ans\"{a}tze. We compare the results with those in eleven-dimensional supergravity. Supersymmetry is recovered in the extreme limit if the backgrounds are taken to be independent. Consistency with non-supersymmet...

We present dynamical intersecting brane solutions in higher-dimensional gravitational theory coupled to dilaton and several forms. Assuming the forms of metric, form fields, and dilaton field, we give a complete classification of dynamical intersecting brane solutions with/without M-waves and Kaluza-Klein monopoles in eleven-dimensional supergravity. We apply these solutions to cosmology and black holes. It is shown that these give FRW cosmological solutions and in some cases...

In this paper, we construct multi-scalar, multi-center $p$-brane solutions in toroidally compactified M-theory. We use these solutions to show that all supersymmetric $p$-branes can be viewed as bound states of certain basic building blocks, namely $p$-branes that preserve $1/2$ of the supersymmetry. We also explore the M-theory interpretation of $p$-branes in lower dimensions. We show that all the supersymmetric $p$-branes can be viewed as intersections of M-branes or booste...

We construct new intersecting S-brane solutions in 11-dimensional supergravity which do not have supersymmetric analogs. They are obtained by letting brane charges to be proportional to each other. Solutions fall into two categories with respect to whether there is a non-diagonal term to be cancelled in the field equations or not. In each case we show that they can be constructed by using a simple set of rules which is similar to the harmonic function rule of the usual static...

This is the written version of a talk given in Bonn on September 11th, 2001 during a workshop on "Special structures in string theory". We report on joint work in progress with George Papadopoulos aimed at classifying the maximally supersymmetric solutions of the ten- and eleven-dimensional supergravity theories with 32 supercharges.

A non-local classical duality between the three-block truncated 11D supergravity and the 8D vacuum gravity with two commuting Killing symmetries is established. The supergravity four-form field is generated via an inverse dualisation of the corresponding Killing two-forms in six dimensions. 11D supersymmetry condition is shown to be equivalent to existence of covariantly constant spinors in eight dimensions. Thus any solution to the vacuum Einstein equations in eight dimensio...

In addition to the double-dimensional reduction procedure that employs world-volume Killing symmetries of $p$-brane supergravity solutions and acts diagonally on a plot of $p$ versus spacetime dimension $D$, there exists a second procedure of ``vertical'' reduction. This reduces the transverse-space dimension via an integral that superposes solutions to the underlying Laplace equation. We show that vertical reduction is also closely related to the recently-introduced notion o...

This is a brief summary of lectures given at the Fourth Mexican School on Gravitation and Mathematical Physics. The lectures gave an introduction to branes in eleven-dimensional supergravity and in type IIA supergravities in ten-dimensions. Charge conservation and the role of the so-called `Chern-Simons terms' were emphasized. Known exact solutions were discussed and used to provide insight into the question `Why don't fundamental strings fall off of D-branes,' which is often...