Symmetries of non-maximal supergravities with higher-derivative corrections

Abstract: We consider hidden symmetries arising from U-duality in the dimensional reduction of non-maximal higher-derivative supergravities to three dimensions. In particular, we consider the $G_{2(2)}$ symmetry of minimal five-dimensional supergravity and the $O(d+p+1,d+1)$ symmetry of bosonic and heterotic string theory on $T^d$. Using a group theory argument, we show that the higher-derivative corrections explicitly break all hidden symmetry enhancements. As special cases, this also implies that higher-derivative corrections prevent the symmetry enhancement to $SL(3,\mathbb R)$ in pure five-dimensional gravity and $O(4,4)$ in the STU model.