A local action for Kodaira--Spencer gravity

Abstract

A local action is given for Kodaira--Spencer gravity by solving a constraint on the complex structure deformation of a Calabi--Yau threefold in terms of a $(1,1)$ form as the new gravity field. The gauge algebra becomes a genuine $L_{\infty}$ algebra based on a Courant algebroid, while the gravity field and its linearized gauge transformations coincide with those of double field theory. On a real three-dimensional slice, the free action reduces to the Fierz--Pauli action for massless spin-2 plus the Kalb--Ramond action for a B-field. Non-linearly, the theory carries parity-odd interactions with three derivatives, and it is gauge invariant without a level-matching constraint, in this sense defining an unconstrained double field theory. The full theory is encoded in a cyclic $L_{\infty}$ algebra, for which a double copy interpretation is given.