Seeking the balance: Patching double and exceptional field theories

Abstract

We investigate the patching of double and exceptional field theories. In double field theory the patching conditions imposed on the spacetime after solving the strong section condition imply that the 3-form field strength $H$ is exact. A similar conclusion can be reached for the form field strengths of exceptional field theories after some plausive assumptions are made on the relation between the transition functions of the additional coordinates and the patching data of the form field strengths. We illustrate the issues that arise, and explore several alternative options which include the introduction of C-folds and of the topological geometrisation condition.Comment: substantial changes, section with example added, to appear in jhep, 24 page