Eleven-dimensional gauge theory for the M-algebra as an Abelian semigroup expansion of $\mathfrak{osp} ( 32 | 1 )$

Abstract

A new Lagrangian realizing the symmetry of the M-algebra in eleven-dimensional space-time is presented. By means of the novel technique of Abelian semigroup expansion, a link between the M-algebra and the orthosymplectic algebra $\mathfrak{osp}(32|1)$ is established, and an M-algebra-invariant symmetric tensor of rank six is computed. This symmetric invariant tensor is a key ingredient in the construction of the new Lagrangian. The gauge-invariant Lagrangian is displayed in an explicitly Lorentz-invariant way by means of a subspace separation method based on the extended Cartan homotopy formula.