Constructing doubly self-dual chiral p-form actions in D=2(p+1) spacetime dimensions

Abstract

A Siegel-type chiral p-form action is proposed in D = 2(p + 1) spacetime dimensions.The approach we adopt is to realize the symmetric second-rank Lagrange-multiplier field, introduced in Siegel's action, in terms of a normalized multiplication of two (q+1)-form fields with q indices of each field contracted in the even p case, or of two pairs of (q+1)form fields with q indices of each pair of fields contracted in the odd p case, where the (q+1)-form fields are of external derivatives of one auxiliary q-form field for the former, or of a pair of auxiliary q-form fields for the latter. Using this action, it is straightforward to deduce the recently constructed PST action for q equal to zero. It is found that the Siegeltype chiral p-form action with a fixed p (even or odd) is doubly self-dual in D = 2(p + 1) spacetime dimensions when the auxiliary field(s) is/are also chosen to be of p-form. This result includes PST's as a special case where only the chiral 0-form action is doubly self-dual in D = 2 dimensions.