Brane Tensions and Coupling Constants from within M-Theory

الأصل · EN

Reviewing the cancellation of local anomalies of M-theory on R¹0 x S¹/Z₂ the Yang-Mills coupling constant on the boundaries is rederived. The result is lambda² = 2(1/3) (2 pi) (4 pi kappa²)(2/3) corresponding to eta = lambda⁶/kappa⁴ = 256 pi⁵ in the `upstairs' units used by Horava and Witten and differs from their calculation. It is shown that these values are compatible with the standard membrane and fivebrane tensions derived from the M-theory bulk action. In view of these results it is argued that the natural units for M-theory on R¹0 x S¹/Z₂ are the `downstairs' units where the brane tensions take their standard form and the Yang-Mills coupling constant is lambda² = 4 pi (4 pi kappa²)(2/3).