Generalized BF Theory in Superspace as Underlying Theory of 11D Supergravity

TL;DR

This paper develops a generalized BF theory in superspace that embeds 11D supergravity and potentially serves as a fundamental underlying theory connecting supergravity to M-theory.

Contribution

It introduces a topological BF theory in superspace capable of embedding 11D supergravity and suggests it as a candidate for the low energy limit of M-theory.

Findings

Successfully embeds 11D supergravity within the BF theory.

Accommodates all Bianchi identities for teleparallel superspace.

Proposes the theory as a fundamental link to M-theory.

Abstract

We construct a generalized BF theory in superspace that can embed eleven-dimensional supergravity theory. Our topological BF theory can accommodate all the necessary Bianchi identities for teleparallel superspace supergravity in eleven-dimensions, as the simplest but nontrivial solutions to superfield equations for our superspace action. This indicates that our theory may have solutions other than eleven-dimensional supergravity, accommodating generalized theories of eleven-dimensional supergravity. Therefore our topological theory can be a good candidate for the low energy limit of M-theory, as an underlying fundamental theory providing a `missing link' between eleven-dimensional supergravity and M-theory.