Calculable membrane theory

Abstract

The key to membrane theory is to enlarge the diffeomorphism group until 4D gravity becomes almost topological. Just one ghost survives and its central charges can cancel against matter. A simple bosonic membrane emerges, but its flat D = 28 target space is unstable. Adding supersymmetry ought to give calculable (2,2) membranes in 12 target dimensions, but (2,1) membranes won't work.