Metric-Bourbaki algebroids: Cartan calculus for M-theory (Q6204216)

This paper analyzes the hierarchy of defining axioms of Courant algebroids, that is to say, almost-Leibniz, almost-Courant, metric, pre-Courant and Courant. Then the authors repeat the same construction for the higher case, where the properties of standard higher Courant algebroids constructed with the higher Dorfman bracket [\textit{Y. Bi} and \textit{Y. Sheng}, Sci. China, Math. 54, No. 3, 437--447 (2011; Zbl 1248.53067)]. Focusing on the crucial points of these structures, the authors imitate another hierarchy, scratching from an almost-Leibniz algebroid. Then the authors construct almost-Bourbaki algebroids, where the symmetric part of the bracket is given by a vector bundle valued metric as well as a first-order differential operator. By introducing an additional data, a map acting on the sections of an arbitrary vector bundle that would be analogous to Lie derivative of forms, the authors generalize the notion of metric invariance, defining almost-metric-Bourbaki algebroids. By considering the cases where the anchor is a morphism of brackets and the Leibniz-Jacobi is satisfied, the authors define the final steps in the hierarch, namely pre-metric-Bourbaki and metric-Bourbaki algebroids. Similarly to exact Courant algebroids, the authors define exact versions of these algebroids. For the case of exact metric-Bourbaki algebroids, some maps generalizing the exterior derivative, Lie derivative and interior product are induced. Axiomatizing the significant properties of these maps with the insight from the classification in [\textit{P. Ševera}, ``Letters to Alan Weinstein about Courant algebroids'', Preprint, \url{arXiv:1707.00265}], the authors define Bourbaki calculi, while, given a Bourbaki calculus, it is shown that one can construct a Dorfman-like bracket in order to get an exact metric-Bourbaki algebroid. Furthermore, the authors establish that any exact metric-Bourbaki algebroid with certain additional conditions, has to have a bracket that is the twisted version of the Dorfman-like bracket. The properties of this twist are established, generalizing the results from Ševera classification. The constructions are further generalized by replacing the tangent bundle with an arbitrary Lie algebroid \(A\). \(A\)-exact versions of Bourbaki, metric-Bourbaki algebroids as well as Bourbaki \(A\)-calculi are defined, extending the results for them. Furthermore, the authors give several examples of Bourbaki and metric-Bourbaki algebroids together with their \(A\)-versions. These examples include Lie metric [\textit{I. Vaisman}, Int. J. Math. Math. Sci. 2005, No. 11, 1737--1758 (2005; Zbl 1159.53348)], Courant, higher metric, higher Courant [\textit{Y. Bi} and \textit{Y. Sheng}, Sci. China, Math. 54, No. 3, 437--447 (2011; Zbl 1248.53067)], Jacobi [\textit{A. G. Tortorella}, Differ. Geom. Appl. 80, Article ID 101846, 37 p. (2022; Zbl 1494.53091)], conformal Courant [\textit{D. Baraglia}, Int. J. Geom. Methods Mod. Phys. 10, No. 2, Paper No. 1250084, 35 p. (2013; Zbl 1264.53074)], \(AV\)-Courant [\textit{D. Li-Bland}, Can. J. Math. 63, No. 4, 938--960 (2011; Zbl 1223.53061)], \(G\)- [\url{https://inspirehep.net/literature/1849530}], omni-Lie [\textit{Z. Chen} and \textit{Z. J. Liu}, J. Geom. Phys. 60, No. 5, 799--808 (2010; Zbl 1210.17003)], higher omni-Lie [\textit{Y. Bi} et al., J. Lie Theory 29, No. 3, 881--899 (2019; Zbl 1446.17033)] algebroids. The authors also give several examples of Bourbaki pre-calculi including Cartan calculus of usual forms, of vector bundle valued forms, of Lie algebroids forms, and of vector bundle valued Lie algebroid forms, and the induced ones from the exact metric-Bourbaki algebroid examples. Furthermore, the relations between Bourbaki algebroids and Bourbaki calculi for these specific cases are explained, while the authors use the machinery to construct various new algebroid structures.