A master exceptional field theory

Abstract

We construct a pseudo-Lagrangian that is invariant under rigid E 11 and transforms as a density under E 11 generalised diffeomorphisms. The gauge-invariance requires the use of a section condition studied in previous work on E 11 exceptional field theory and the inclusion of constrained fields that transform in an indecomposable E 11representation together with the E 11 coset fields. We show that, in combination with gauge-invariant and E 11 -invariant duality equations, this pseudo-Lagrangian reduces to the bosonic sector of non-linear eleven-dimensional supergravity for one choice of solution to the section condition. For another choice, we reobtain the E 8 exceptional field theory and conjecture that our pseudo-Lagrangian and duality equations produce all exceptional field theories with maximal supersymmetry in any dimension. We also describe how the theory entails non-linear equations for higher dual fields, including the dual graviton in eleven dimensions. Furthermore, we speculate on the relation to the E 10 sigma model.