Constructing doubly self-dual chiral p-form actions in D=2( p+1) spacetime dimensions

Abstract

A Siegel-type chiral p-form action is proposed in D=2( p+1) spacetime dimensions. The approach we adopt is to realize the symmetric second-rank Lagrange-multiplier field, introduced in Siegel's action, in terms of a normalized multiplication of two ( q+1)-form fields with q indices of each field contracted in the even p case, or of two pairs of ( q+1)-form fields with q indices of each pair of fields contracted in the odd p case, where the ( q+1)-form fields are of external derivatives of one auxiliary q-form field for the former, or of a pair of auxiliary q-form fields for the latter. Using this action, it is straightforward to deduce the recently constructed PST action for q equal to zero. It is found that the Siegel-type chiral p-form action with a fixed p (even or odd) is doubly self-dual in D=2( p+1) spacetime dimensions when the auxiliary field(s) is/are also chosen to be of p-form. This result includes PST's as a special case where only the chiral 0-form action is doubly self-dual in D=2 dimensions.