Emergence of non-linear electrodynamic theories from $T\bar{T}$-like deformations

Abstract

In this letter, we investigate the deformation of the ModMax theory, as a unique Lagrangian of non-linear electrodynamics preserving both conformal and electromagnetic-duality invariance, under $T\bar{T}$-like flows. We will show that the deformed theory is the generalized non-linear Born-Infeld electrodynamics. Being inspired by the invariance under the flow equation for Born-Infeld theories, we propose another $T\bar{T}$-like operator generating the ModMax and generalized Born-Infeld non-linear electrodynamic theories from the usual Maxwell and Born-Infeld theories, respectively.