Higher form gauge fields and their nonassociative symmetry algebras

Abstract

We show that geometric theories with $p$-form gauge fields have a nonassociative symmetry structure, extending an underlying Lie algebra. This nonassociativity is controlled by the same Chevalley-Eilenberg cohomology that classifies free differential algebras, $p$-form generalizations of Cartan-Maurer equations. A possible relation with flux backgrounds of closed string theory is pointed out.