6D interpretation of 3D gravity

Herfray, Yannick; Krasnov, Kirill; Scarinci, Carlos

Abstract

We show that 3D gravity, in its pure connection formulation, admits a natural 6D interpretation. The 3D field equations for the connection are equivalent to 6D Hitchin equations for the Chern–Simons 3-form in the total space of the principal bundle over the 3-dimensional base. Turning this construction around one gets an explanation of why the pure connection formulation of 3D gravity exists. More generally, we interpret 3D gravity as the dimensional reduction of the 6D Hitchin theory. To this end, we show that any $\text{SU}(2)$ invariant closed 3-form in the total space of the principal $\text{SU}(2)$ bundle can be parametrised by a connection together with a 2-form field on the base. The dimensional reduction of the 6D Hitchin theory then gives rise to 3D gravity coupled to a topological 2-form field.

Citation

Herfray, Y., Krasnov, K., & Scarinci, C. (2017). 6D interpretation of 3D gravity. Classical and Quantum Gravity, 34(4), https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6382/aa5727

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 3, 2017
• Publication Date: Jan 24, 2017
• Deposit Date: May 9, 2017
• Journal: Classical and Quantum Gravity
• Print ISSN: 0264-9381
• Electronic ISSN: 1361-6382
• Publisher: IOP Publishing
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 34
• Issue: 4
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6382/aa5727
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/839132
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6382/aa5727
• Contract Date: May 9, 2017