A hidden symmetry in quantum gravity

TL;DR

This paper explores a hidden extended symmetry in four-dimensional gravity related to the Ehlers symmetry in three dimensions, revealing its connection to N=8 supergravity and its implications for the structure of the action integral.

Contribution

It demonstrates how the Ehlers symmetry can be realized in four-dimensional gravity by treating helicity states as field variables, linking it to extended symmetries in supergravity.

Findings

Extended symmetry in four-dimensional gravity identified.

Helicity states can be treated as variables to realize the symmetry.

Connection established between gravity symmetry and N=8 supergravity.

Abstract

The action integral contains more information than the equations of motion. We have previously shown that there are signs of an extended exceptional symmetry for N=8 supergravity in four dimensions. The symmetry is such that the fields used in the Lagrangian are not representations of the symmetry. Instead one has to add representations to obtain a representation of the extended symmetry group. In this paper we discuss an extended symmetry in four-dimensional gravity which is the Ehlers symmetry in three dimensions. It cannot be spanned by the helicity states of four-dimensional gravity but it can be realised once we treat the helicity states just as field variables of the functional integral, which can be changed like variables in any integral. We also explain how this symmetry is inherent to formulations of N=8 supergravity in four dimensions through a truncation in the field space to pure gravity.