Aspects of Supersymmetry in Multiple Membrane Theories

Abstract: This thesis consists of two parts. In the first part we investigate the worldvolume supersymmetry algebra of multiple membrane theories. We begin with a description of M-theory branes and their intersections from the perspective of spacetime and worldvolume supersymmetry algebras. We then provide an overview of the recent work on multiple M2-branes focusing on the Bagger-Lambert theory and its relation to the Nambu-Poisson M5-brane and the ABJM theory. The worldvolume supersymmetry algebras of these theories are explicitly calculated and the charges interpreted in terms of spacetime intersections of M-branes. The second part of the thesis looks at $l_p^3$ corrections to the supersymmetry transformations of the Bagger-Lambert theory. We begin with a review of the dNS duality transformation which allows a gauge field to be dualised to a scalar field in 2+1 dimensions. Applying this duality to the $\alpha'^2$ terms of the D2-brane supersymmetry transformations we are able to determine the $l_p^3$ corrections to the supersymmetry transformations of the scalar and fermion fields for the abelian theory. Generalising to the `non-abelian' Bagger-Lambert theory we are able to determine the $l_p^3$ correction to the supersymmetry transformation of the fermion field. Along the way make a number of observations relating to the implementation of the dNS duality transformation at the level of supersymmetry transformations.