English

Higher form gauge fields and their nonassociative symmetry algebras

High Energy Physics - Theory 2015-06-17 v3 Mathematical Physics math.MP

Abstract

We show that geometric theories with pp-form gauge fields have a nonassociative symmetry structure, extending an underlying Lie algebra. This nonassociativity is controlled by the same Chevalley-Eilenberg cohomology that classifies free differential algebras, pp-form generalizations of Cartan-Maurer equations. A possible relation with flux backgrounds of closed string theory is pointed out.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1310.7185,
  title  = {Higher form gauge fields and their nonassociative symmetry algebras},
  author = {Leonardo Castellani},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1310.7185},
  year   = {2015}
}

Comments

8 pages, LaTeX. Shortened review part on extended Lie derivatives and free differential algebras, added computation of the Jacobiator for D=11 supergravity, added references. Matches published version on JHEP