We consider a free topological model in 5D euclidean flat spacetime, built
from two rank-2 tensor fields. Despite the fact that the bulk of the model does
not have any particular physical interpretation, on its 4D planar edge
nontrivial gauge field theories are recovered, whose features are entirely
determined by the gauge and discrete symmetries of the bulk. In particular no
4D dynamics can be obtained without imposing a Time Reversal invariance in the
bulk. Remarkably, one of the two possible edge models selected by the Time
Reversal symmetries displays a true electromagnetic duality, which relates
strong and weak coupling regimes. Moreover this same model, when considered
on-shell, coincides with the Maxwell theory, which therefore can be thought of
as a 4D boundary theory of a seemingly harmless 5D topological model.Comment: 21 pages, plain LaTeX, no figures. Version to appear on JHE
