On the dual equivalence of the self-dual and topologically massive p-form models

We study the duality symmetry in p-form models containing a generalized Bq∧Fp+1 term in spacetime manifolds of arbitrary dimensions. The equivalence between the Bq∧Fp+1 self-dual (SDB∧F) and the Bq∧Fp+1 topologically massive (TMB∧F) models is established using a gauge embedding procedure, including the minimal coupling to conserved charged matter current. The minimal coupling adopted for both tensor fields in the self-dual representation is transformed into a non-minimal magnetic like coupling in the topologically massive representation but with the currents swapped. It is known that to establish this equivalence a current–current interaction term is needed to render the matter sector unchanged. We show that both terms arise naturally from the embedding adopted. Comparison with Higgs/Julia–Toulouse duality is established.