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arXiv · 0807.4039

Duality Rotations in Nonlinear Electrodynamics and in Extended Supergravity

Paolo Aschieri·Sergio Ferrara·Bruno Zumino
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Abstract

We review the general theory of duality rotations which, in four dimensions, exchange electric with magnetic fields. Necessary and sufficient conditions in order for a theory to have duality symmetry are established. A nontrivial example is Born-Infeld theory with n abelian gauge fields and with Sp(2n,R) self-duality. We then review duality symmetry in supergravity theories. In the case of N=2 supergravity duality rotations are in general not a symmetry of the theory but a key ingredient in order to formulate the theory itself. This is due to the beautiful relation between the geometry of special Kaehler manifolds and duality rotations.

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Paolo Aschieri, Sergio Ferrara, Bruno Zumino. 2008-11-14. Duality Rotations in Nonlinear Electrodynamics and in Extended Supergravity. https://doi.org/10.1393/ncr%2Fi2008-10038-8

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