M-theory on special holonomy spaces

Abstract

We review the construction of regular p-brane solutions of M-theory and string theory with less than maximal supersymmetry whose transverse spaces have metrics with special holonomy, and where additional fluxes allow brane resolutions via transgression terms. We summarize the properties of resolved M2-branes and fractional D2-branes, whose transverse spaces are Ricci flat eight-dimensional and seven-dimensional spaces of special holonomy. © 2002 American Institute of Physics.