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  • Open Access

Nonrelativistic limit of Hohm-Siegel-Zwiebach theory

Eric Lescano*

  • *Contact author: eric.lescano@uwr.edu.pl
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Phys. Rev. D 113, 086004 – Published 8 April, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/g5mq-5p7f

Abstract

We study the nonrelativistic (NR) limit of Hohm-Siegel-Zwiebach (HSZ) theory, a higher-derivative theory of gravity with exact and manifest T-duality invariance. Since the theory can be formulated using the generalized metric formalism, the HSZ Lagrangian remains convergent to all orders in derivatives when taking the NR limit. In this work, we analyze the three-derivative corrections to the symmetry transformations of the fields in the NR case, as well as the terms in the four-derivative action depending on the b field. Interestingly, the corrections to the metric degrees of freedom cannot be fully trivialized, as in the relativistic case, in order to preserve the convergence of the theory. As HSZ theory interpolates order by order between heterotic and bosonic string theories, the results of this work can be interpreted as a truncation of the four-derivative structure of heterotic supergravity in the NR limit.

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Phys. Rev. D 113, 086004– Published 8 April, 2026
  • Received 26 January 2026
  • Accepted 6 March 2026
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