Spectrum of D=6, N=4b supergravity on AdS3xS3

The complete spectrum of D = 6, N = 4b supergravity with n tensor multiplets compactified on AdS(3) x S-3 is determined. The D = 6 theory obtained from the K-3 compactification of Type IIB string requires that n = 21, but we let n be arbitrary. The superalgebra that underlies the symmetry of the resulting supergravity theory in AdS(3) coupled to matter is SU(1, 1\2)(L) x SU(1, 1\2)(R). The theory also has an unbroken global SO(4)(R) x SO(n) symmetry inherited from D = 6. The spectrum of states arranges itself into a tower of spin-2 supermultiplets, a tower of spin-1, SO(n) singlet supermultiplets, a tower of spin-1 supermultiplets in the vector representation of SO(n) and a special spin-1/2 supermultiplet also in the vector representation of SO(n). The SU(2)(L) x SU(2)(R) Yang-Mills states reside in the second level of the spin-2 tower and the lowest level of the spin-1, SO(n) singlet tower and the associated field theory exhibits interesting properties. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V.