An Action for F-theory: $\mathrm{SL}(2) \times \mathbb{R}^+$ Exceptional Field Theory

Abstract

We construct the 12-dimensional exceptional field theory associated to the group $\mathrm{SL}(2) \times \mathbb{R}^+$ . Demanding the closure of the algebra of local symmetries leads to a constraint, known as the section condition, that must be imposed on all fields. This constraint has two inequivalent solutions, one giving rise to 11-dimensional supergravity and the other leading to F-theory. Thus $\mathrm{SL}(2) \times \mathbb{R}^+$ exceptional field theory contains both F-theory and M-theory in a single 12-dimensional formalism.