Duality Hierarchies and Differential Graded Lie Algebras

Abstract: The gauge theories underlying gauged supergravity and exceptional field theory are based on tensor hierarchies: generalizations of Yang-Mills theory utilizing algebraic structures that generalize Lie algebras and, as a consequence, require higher-form gauge fields. Recently, we proposed that the algebraic structure allowing for consistent tensor hierarchies is axiomatized by `infinity-enhanced Leibniz algebras' defined on graded vector spaces generalizing Leibniz algebras. It was subsequently shown that, upon appending additional vector spaces, this structure can be reinterpreted as a differential graded Lie algebra. We use this observation to streamline the construction of general tensor hierarchies, and we formulate dynamics in terms of a hierarchy of first-order duality relations, including scalar fields with a potential.