Courant bracket

Abstract: Generalized complex geometry encompasses complex and symplectic ge- ometry as its extremal special cases. We explore the basic properties of this geometry, including its enhanced symmetry group, elliptic deforma- tion theory, relation to Poisson geometry, and local structure theory. We also dene and study generalized complex branes, which interpolate be- tween at bundles on Lagrangian submanifolds and holomorphic bundles on complex submanifolds.

Abstract: In his study of Dirac structures, a notion which includes both Poisson structures and closed 2-forms, T. Courant introduced a bracket on the direct sum of vector fields and 1-forms. This bracket does not satisfy the Jacobi identity except on certain subspaces. In this paper we systematize the properties of this bracket in the definition of a Courant algebroid. This structure on a vector bundle $E\rightarrow M$, consists of an antisymmetric bracket on the sections of $E$ whose ``Jacobi anomaly'' has an explicit expression in terms of a bundle map $E\rightarrow TM$ and a field of symmetric bilinear forms on $E$. When $M$ is a point, the definition reduces to that of a Lie algebra carrying an invariant nondegenerate symmetric bilinear form. For any Lie bialgebroid $(A,A^{*})$ over $M$ (a notion defined by Mackenzie and Xu), there is a natural Courant algebroid structure on $A\oplus A^{*}$ which is the Drinfel'd double of a Lie bialgebra when $M$ is a point. Conversely, if $A$ and $A^*$ are complementary isotropic subbundles of a Courant algebroid $E$, closed under the bracket (such a bundle, with dimension half that of $E$, is called a Dirac structure), there is a natural Lie bialgebroid structure on $(A,A^{*})$ whose double is isomorphic to $E$. The theory of Manin triples is thereby extended from Lie algebras to Lie algebroids. Our work gives a new approach to bihamiltonian structures and a new way of combining two Poisson structures to obtain a third one. We also take some tentative steps toward generalizing Drinfel'd's theory of Poisson homogeneous spaces from groups to groupoids.

Abstract: Double field theory describes a massless subsector of closed string theory with both momentum and winding excitations. The gauge algebra is governed by the Courant bracket in certain subsectors of this double field theory. We construct the associated nonlinear background-independent action that is T-duality invariant and realizes the Courant gauge algebra. The action is the sum of a standard action for gravity, antisymmetric tensor, and dilaton fields written with ordinary derivatives, a similar action for dual fields with dual derivatives, and a mixed term that is needed for gauge invariance.

Abstract: We study a modification of Poisson geometry by a closed 3-form. Just as for ordinary Poisson structures, these "twisted" Poisson structures are conveniently described as Dirac structures in suitable Courant algebroids. The additive group of 2-forms acts on twisted Poisson structures and permits them to be seen as glued from ordinary Poisson structures defined on local patches. We conclude with remarks on deformation quantization and twisted symplectic groupoids.