Double Field Theory as the Double Copy of Yang-Mills

Abstract

We show that double field theory arises from the color-kinematic double copy of Yang-Mills theory. A precise double copy prescription for the Yang-Mills action at quadratic and cubic order is provided that yields the double field theory action in which the duality invariant dilaton has been integrated out. More precisely, at quadratic order this yields the gauge invariant double field theory, while at cubic order it yields the cubic double field theory action subject to a gauge condition that originates from Siegel gauge in string field theory.