On the Surface of Things

Doctoral thesis, 2008

In the family of higher dimensional objects, or branes, the membrane is the uncle everyone avoids at parties. It is mysterious, unpredictable and in spite of having been around since the early sixties, no one has fully understood its behaviour. At times it has been at the centre of attention; at other times it has been shunned and reduced to skulk in dark corners, interacting only with itself. Nevertheless, it is a very interesting character. This thesis attempts, from three different perspectives, to shed some sliver of light on this object as well as its closer relatives. It is a small step towards fulfilling the only request such objects has ever made of us: to think new thoughts.