Symmetry and holonomy in M Theory

2006

Eleven-dimensional M Theory is conjectured to contain and unify quantum gravity and the rest of fundamental interactions. Despite its current lack of a precise formulation, hints and information about M Theory can be retrieved from its low energy limit, eleven-dimensional supergravity. In fact, this Thesis aims to make progress towards the understanding of M Theory by the study of eleven dimensional supergravity. Two important questions in M Theory yet to be solved are 1) how many supersymmetries can an M Theory background preserve and 2) what is the symmetry of M Theory. Both questions are addressed in this Thesis at the D=11 supergravity level.The former question can be studied for purely…