Maximal gauged supergravity in three dimensions

TL;DR

This paper constructs a new class of maximally supersymmetric gauged supergravity theories in three dimensions, revealing models not derived from higher dimensions and highlighting their potential significance for AdS/CFT correspondence.

Contribution

It introduces a novel class of three-dimensional supergravities with maximal supersymmetry, not obtainable from higher-dimensional theories, expanding the landscape of supergravity models.

Findings

New class of AdS supergravities constructed

Identification of gauge groups including SO(8)xSO(8) and F_4 x G_2

Discovery of nonabelian duality between scalar and vector fields

Abstract

We construct maximally supersymmetric gauged N=16 supergravity in three dimensions, thereby obtaining an entirely new class of AdS supergravities. These models are not derivable from any known higher-dimensional theory, indicating the existence of a new type of supergravity beyond D=11. They are expected to be of special importance also for the conjectured AdS/CFT correspondence. One of their noteworthy features is a nonabelian generalization of the duality between scalar and vector fields in three dimensions. Among the possible gauge groups, SO(8)xSO(8) is distinguished as the maximal compact gauge group, but there are also more exotic possibilities such as F_4 x G_2.