The E_{11} origin of all maximal supergravities

TL;DR

This paper derives the spectrum of forms in various dimensions from the E_{11} non-linear realization of M-theory, linking supergravity gaugings and branes to an eleven-dimensional origin.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive derivation of forms and branes in supergravity theories from E_{11}, unifying their origin within M-theory.

Findings

D-1 forms match gauged supergravity patterns

D-forms relate to space-filling branes

All fields in E_{11} adjoint likely have physical meaning

Abstract

Starting from the eleven dimensional E_{11} non-linear realisation of M-theory we compute all possible forms, that is objects with totally antisymmetrised indices, that occur in four dimensions and above as well as all the 1-forms and 2-forms in three dimensions. In any dimension D, the D-1-forms lead to maximal supergravity theories with cosmological constants and they are in precise agreement with the patterns of gauging found in any dimension using supersymmetry. The D-forms correspond to the presence of space-filling branes which are crucial for the consistency of orientifold models and have not been derived from an alternative approach, with the exception of the 10-dimensional case. It follows that the gaugings of supergravities and the spacetime-filling branes possess an eleven dimensional origin within the E_{11} formulation of M-theory. This and previous results very strongly suggest that all the fields in the adjoint representation of E_{11} have a physical interpretation.