On the curious spectrum of duality invariant higher-derivative gravity

Abstract

We analyze the spectrum of the exactly duality and gauge invariant higher-derivative double field theory. While this theory is based on a chiral CFT and does not correspond to a standard string theory, our analysis illuminates a number of issues central in string theory. The full quadratic action is rewritten as a two-derivative theory with additional fields. This allows for a simple analysis of the spectrum, which contains two massive spin-2 ghosts and massive scalars, in addition to the massless fields. Moreover, in this formulation, the massless or tensionless limit ${\alpha }^{\prime }\to \infty$ is non-singular and leads to an enhanced gauge symmetry. We show that the massive modes can be integrated out exactly at the quadratic level, leading to an infinite series of higher-derivative corrections. Finally, we present a ghost-free massive extension of linearized double field theory, which employs a novel mass term for the dilaton and metric.

arXiv comment28 pages. Minor typos corrected. Matches with the published version

References in corpus (21)

• Massive Gravity
• Planck 2013 results. XXII. Constraints on inflation
• Massive Gravity in Three Dimensions
• Ghost Condensation and a Consistent Infrared Modification of Gravity
• Double Field Theory
• Generalized metric formulation of double field theory
• Superspace Duality in Low-Energy Superstrings
• Causality Constraints on Corrections to the Graviton Three-Point Coupling
• Background independent action for double field theory
• Doubled α'-Geometry
• T-duality and ${\alpha }^{\prime }$-corrections
• Double Field Theory at Order ${\alpha }^{\prime }$
• On the null origin of the ambitwistor string
• Green-Schwarz mechanism and ${\alpha }^{\prime }$-deformed Courant brackets
• Modes of Log Gravity
• Factorization of Chiral String Amplitudes
• Unitarity in the Brout-Englert-Higgs Mechanism for Gravity
• T-duality Constraints on Higher Derivatives Revisited
• Amplitudes for left-handed strings
• Double Metric, Generalized Metric and ${\alpha }^{\prime }$-Geometry
• Three-point Functions in Duality-Invariant Higher-Derivative Gravity

Cited by in corpus (19)

• On the null origin of the ambitwistor string
• Duality Invariant Cosmology to all Orders in ${\alpha }^{\prime }$
• The Odd story of ${\alpha }^{\prime }$-corrections
• Second order higher-derivative corrections in Double Field Theory
• A String Theory Which Isn't About Strings
• Formation and evaporation of quantum black holes from the decoupling mechanism in quantum gravity
• $\mathcal{N}=1$ Supersymmetric Double Field Theory and the generalized Kerr-Schild Ansatz
• The complex null string, Galilean conformal algebra and scattering equations
• Background Independent Double Field Theory at Order ${\alpha }^{\prime }$: Metric vs. Frame-like Geometry
• Cosmology at the top of the ${\alpha }^{\prime }$ tower
• Chiral Closed strings: Four massless states scattering amplitude
• ${\alpha }^{\prime }$-corrections and their double formulation
• Slowly rotating and the accelerating ${\alpha }^{\prime }$-corrected black holes in four and higher dimensions
• A Note on Circle Compactification of Tensile Ambitwistor String
• An ${\alpha }^{\prime }$-complete theory of cosmology and its tensionless limit
• String Excitation by Initial Singularity of Inflation
• Massive strings from a haunted field theory
• $O(d,d;\mathbb{Z})$ invariant Fierz-Pauli massive gravity
• Residues of bosonic string scattering amplitudes and the Lauricella functions