Holonomy and Symmetry in M-theory

Abstract

Supersymmetric solutions of 11-dimensional supergravity can be classified according to the holonomy of the supercovariant derivative arising in the Killing spinor condition. It is shown that the holonomy must be contained in $\SL(32,\R)$. The holonomies of solutions with flux are discussed and examples are analysed. In extending to M-theory, account has to be taken of the phenomenon of ` supersymmetry without supersymmetry'. It is argued that including the fermionic degrees of freedom in M-theory requires a formulation with a local $\SL(32,\R)$ symmetry, analogous to the need for local Lorentz symmetry in coupling spinors to gravity.

26 pages. 31/32 supersymmetries might occur after all