On higher spin extension of the Jackiw-Teitelboim gravity model

Abstract: We formulate AdS_2 higher spin gravity as BF theory with fields taking values in sl(N,R) algebra treated as higher spin algebra. The theory is topological and naturally extends the Jackiw-Teitelboim gravity model so as to include higher spin fields. The BF equations linearized about AdS_2 background are interpreted as describing higher spin partially-massless fields of maximal depth along with dilaton fields. It is shown that there are dual metric-like formulations following from the original linearized BF higher spin theory. The duality establishes a dynamical equivalence of the metric-like field equations that can be given either as massive scalar field equations or as conservation conditions for higher spin currents.