Testing Gauge/Gravity Duality: The Eleven-Dimensional PP-Wave

Author: Wu, Xinkai

Year: 2004

Degree: Dissertation (Ph.D.)

Advisor: Schwarz, John H.

Committee Members: Schwarz, John H.; Weinstein, Alan Jay; Kapustin, Anton N.; Wise, Mark B.

Option: Physics

DOI: 10.7907/0JV2-RT78

Abstract

The gauge/gravity duality in the interaction between M theory objects has taught us a lot about quantum gravity. The eleven-dimensional PP-wave background provides a new arena for exploring this duality beyond flat and almost flat, i.e., weakly curved, backgrounds. In this thesis we discuss the gauge theories that describe the dynamics of interacting M theory objects, the supergravity calculations that capture these dynamics, the comparison of the two sides, and various objects (such as gravitons and membranes) in the eleven-dimensional PP-wave background. We only consider the one-loop gauge theory and linearized supergravity approximations.

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