The Double Copy of Maximal Supersymmetry in $D=4$

Abstract

We realize off-shell, local and gauge invariant $N=8$ supergravity in $D=4$, to cubic order in fields, as the double copy of $N=4$ super Yang-Mills theory (SYM). Employing the homotopy algebra approach, we show that, thanks to a redundant formulation for the fermionic fields, the kinematic algebra $K$ of $N=4$ SYM is compatible with an action of the global supersymmetry algebra. The double copy space is then a subspace of $K\otimes{\widetilde K}$ that inherits an $L_{\infty}$ algebra on which the two copies of the $N=4$ action combine into an action of the $N=8$ supersymmetry algebra, with a corresponding enhancement of the $R$-symmetry group to $SU(8)$.