A Dual Formulation for (p and D)-branes Via Target-Space Field Theory

Abstract

It is shown how some field theories in the target-space induce the splitting of the space-time into a continuous of branes, which can be p-branes or D-branes depending on what the field theory it is. The basic symmetry underlying the construction is used to build an invariant action, which is proved to be off-shell identical to the p-brane (D-brane) action. The coupling with the abelian ($p+1$)-form in this formulation it is also found. While the classical brane's embedding couple to the field strenght, the classical fields couple with its dual (in the Hodge sense), therefore providing an explicit electric-magnetic duality. Finally, the generic role of the underlying symmetry in the connection between the target-space theory and the world-volume one, is completely elucidated.