Symmetric M-theory backgrounds

Abstract

We classify symmetric backgrounds of eleven-dimensional supergravity up to local isometry. In other words, we classify triples (M, g, F), where (M,g) is an eleven-dimensional lorentzian locally symmetric space and F is an invariant 4-form, satisfying the equations of motion of eleven-dimensional supergravity. The possible (M,g) are given either by (not necessarily nondegenerate) Cahen-Wallach spaces or by products AdSd × M11-d for 2 ≤ d ≤ 7 and M11-d a not necessarily irreducible riemannian symmetric space. In most cases we determine the corresponding F-moduli spaces. © 2012 Versita Warsaw and Springer-Verlag Wien.