E11, brane dynamics and duality symmetries

Abstract

Following arXiv:hep-th/0412336 we use the nonlinear realisation of the semi-direct product of [Formula: see text] and its vector representation to construct brane dynamics. The brane moves through a space-time which arises in the nonlinear realisation from the vector representation and it contains the usual embedding coordinates as well as the worldvolume fields. The resulting equations of motion are first order in derivatives and can be thought of as duality relations. Each brane carries the full [Formula: see text] symmetry and so the Cremmer–Julia duality symmetries. We apply this theory to find the dynamics of the IIA and IIB strings, the M2 and M5 branes, the IIB D3 brane as well as the one and two branes in seven dimensions.