SL(2,R) duality-symmetric action for electromagnetic theory with electric and magnetic sources

• Published in: Annals of physics Vol. 339; pp. 328 - 343
• Main Authors: Lee, Choonkyu, Min, Hyunsoo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Elsevier Inc 01-12-2013; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Axion; Born–Infeld; Charging; CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS; Dilaton; DUALITY; Dynamics; ELECTRODYNAMICS; NONLINEAR PROBLEMS; PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS; POTENTIALS; Quantum theory; STRING MODELS; STRING THEORY; SYMMETRY; TRANSFORMATIONS; Zwanziger; Electrodynamics; Born–Infeld; Duality; Dilaton; Axion; Zwanziger
• ISSN: 0003-4916; 1096-035X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.aop.2013.09.015

For the SL(2,R) duality-invariant generalization of Maxwell electrodynamics in the presence of both electric and magnetic sources, we formulate a local, manifestly duality-symmetric, Zwanziger-type action by introducing a pair of four-potentials Aμ and Bμ in a judicious way. On the two potentials Aμ and Bμ the SL(2,R) duality transformation acts in a simple linear manner. In quantum theory including charged source fields, this action can be recast as a SL(2,Z)-invariant action. Also given is a Zwanziger-type action for SL(2,R) duality-invariant Born–Infeld electrodynamics which can be important for D-brane dynamics in string theory.
•We formulate a local, manifestly duality-symmetric, Zwanziger-type action.•Maxwell electrodynamics is generalized to include dilaton and axion fields.•SL(2,R) symmetry is manifest.•We formulate a local, manifestly duality-symmetric, nonlinear Born–Infeld action with SL(2,R) symmetry.