Minimal gauge invariant couplings at order $\ell_p^6$ in M-theory

Abstract: Removing the field redefinitions, the Bianchi identities and the total derivative freedoms from the general form of the gauge invariant couplings at order $\ell_p^6$ for the bosonic fields of M-theory, we have found that the minimum number of independent couplings in the structures with even number of the three-form, is 1062. We find that there are schemes in which there is no coupling involving $R,\,R_{\mu\nu},\,\nabla_\mu F^{\mu\alpha\beta\gamma}$. In these schemes, there are sub-schemes in which, except one coupling which has the second derivative of $F^{(4)}$, the couplings can have no term with more than two derivatives. We find some of the parameters by dimensionally reducing the couplings on a circle and comparing them with the known couplings of the one-loop effective action of type IIA superstring theory. In particular, we find the coupling which has term with more than two derivatives is zero.