1109.4834 (Hisham Sati)

Topological aspects of the partition function of the NS5-brane    [PDF]

Hisham Sati

To study topological aspects of the partition function of the NS5-brane in type IIA string theory, we define a cohomology class whose vanishing is a necessary condition for this function to be well-defined. This leads to various topological conditions, including a twisted Fivebrane structure as well as secondary cohomology operations arising from a K-theoretic description. We explain how these operations also generate the topological part of the action as well as the phase of the partition function. Part of the discussion also applies to the M5-brane.

View original: http://arxiv.org/abs/1109.4834