Open exceptional strings and D-branes (Q2317757)

The author gives a definition of D-brane structures in exceptional geometry, including the exceptional geometry appearing in exceptional field theory or alternatively in exceptional generalised geometry. In exceptional field theory, fields depend on extended coordinates \((X^\mu, Y^M)\), with the latter sitting in a representation of \(E_{d(d)}\) and generalised vectors and tensors transform in representations thereof. In exceptional generalised geometry, we work with a generalised tangent bundle \(E\) over a base manifold \(M\), and this generalised tangent bundle carries an action of \(E_{d(d)}\). In this case, \(M\) is taken to be a \((d- 1)\)-dimensional manifold and one defines a set of bundles such that generalised tensors transforming in the various representations of \(E_{d(d)}\) are sections of these bundles. Assuming Neumann boundary conditions for the \(X^\mu\), the author argues that there is a \(\mathbb{Z}_2\) transformation acting on the exceptional geometry corresponding to that used originally in [the author et al., ibid. 2018, No. 9, Paper No. 157, 84 p. (2018; Zbl 1398.81186)] to define a generalised orientifold quotient. This \(\mathbb{Z}_2\) preserves half-maximal supersymmetry, and leads to a pair of projectors \(P_{\mathrm{Dir}} = \frac{1}{2}(1-Z)\) and \(P_{\mathrm{Neu}} =\frac{1}{2}(1+Z^t)\), which can be used to define Dirichlet and Neumann boundary conditions for the exceptional sigma model. The consistency of these boundary conditions brings into play the string charge \(q_{MN}\) satisfying the compatibility condition \(Z^t qZ = -q\). Allowed pairs \((q,Z)\) pick out D-branes as half-maximal subspaces of the exceptional geometry. The author studies the \(d = 4\) \(\mathrm{SL}(5)\) exceptional geometry as an example and extends this construction to the cases with Dirichlet conditions in the \(X^\mu\) directions. Finally, the author applies his definition of D-branes in the \(\mathrm{SL}(5)\) exceptional field theory to the situation where there are some non-trivial \(U\)-duality monodromy by focusing on some illustrative examples in the IIB case.