Exceptional Lie algebras from twisted supergravity

Seminar: 
Geometry, Symmetry and Physics
Event time: 
Monday, September 27, 2021 - 4:30pm
Location: 
Zoom
Speaker: 
Brian Williams
Speaker affiliation: 
University of Edinburgh
Event description: 

Abstract: Non-topological twists of supersymmetric gauge theories have played an increasingly important role in mathematics in part due to relationships to vertex algebras and quantum groups. On the other hand, motivated by the higher genus B-model, twists of 10-dimensional theories of supergravity have also been introduced. In this talk, we give a complete description of the maximally non-topological twist of 11-dimensional supergravity, the low energy limit of M-theory. I will explain the unexpected result that the global symmetry algebra of the model is equivalent to an infinite-dimensional exceptional super Lie algebra known as E(5,10). I will also explain the relationship between other exceptional algebras and extended objects such as M2 and M5 branes in the twisted setting.

Zoom link: https://yale.zoom.us/j/99305994163, contact the organizers (Gurbir Dhillon and Junliang Shen) for the passcode.