Conformal tension in string theories and M-theory

This paper deals with string theories and M-theories on backgrounds of the form AdS x M, M being a compact principal U(1)-bundle. These configurations are the natural settings to study Hopf T-dualities (Duff et al., Nucl. Phys. B 544 (1999) 145), and so to define duality chains connecting different string theories and M-theories. There is an increasing great interest in studying those properties (physical or geometrical) which are preserved along the duality chains. For example, it is known that Hopf T-dualities preserve the black hole entropies (Duff et al., Nucl. Phys. B 544 (1999) 145). In this paper we consider a two-parameter family of actions which constitutes a natural variation of the conformal total tension action (also known as Willmore-Chen functional in differential geometry). Then, we show that the existence of wide families of solutions (in particular compact solutions) for the corresponding motion equations is preserved along those duality chains. In particular, we exhibit ample classes of Willmore-Chen submanifolds with a reasonable degree of symmetry in a wide variety of conformal string theories and conformal M-theories, that in addition are solutions of a second variational problem known as the area-volume isoperimetric problem. These are good reasons to refer those submanifolds as the best worlds one can find in a conformal universe. The method we use to obtain this invariant under Hopf T-dualities is based on the principle of symmetric criticality. However, it is used in a two-fold sense. First to break symmetry and so to reduce variables. Second to gain rigidity in direct approaches to integrate the Euler-Lagrange equations. The existence of generalized elastic curves is also important in the explicit exhibition of those configurations. The relationship between solutions and elasticae can be regarded as a holographic property. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.