Generalised U-dual solutions in supergravity

Abstract

We discuss the notion of generalised U-duality as a solution generating technique in supergravity. We demonstrate a method to take solutions of type IIA supergravity on a 3-sphere, with NSNS flux, to new solutions of 11-dimensional supergravity, using exceptional geometry techniques. These new solutions are characterised by an underlying 3-algebra structure, and generalise features of solutions obtained by non-abelian T-duality, which involve an underlying ordinary Lie algebra. We focus on an example where we start with the pp-F1-NS5 solution in type IIA supergravity. We discuss the properties of our resulting new solution, including the possibility of viewing it globally as a U-fold, and its M2 and M5 brane charges. In the extremal case, the new solution admits an AdS${}_3$ limit, which falls into a recently constructed class of M-theory AdS$_{3}$ backgrounds -- this provides a global completion of our solution with a well-defined holographic dual, similar to the global completions of non-abelian T-dual solutions. Our full solution is a 6-vector deformation of this AdS${}_3$ limit. We also explicitly solve the Killing spinor equation in the AdS${}_3$ limit, finding a $\frac{1}{2}$-BPS solution.