Dualization of interacting theories including p=d-1 limiting cases

We study the vacuum partition functional Z[ J ] for a system of closed, bos onic p-branes coupled to p-forms in the limiting case: p + 1 = spacetime di mension. We suggest an extension of the duality transformation which can be applied to the limiting case even though no dual gauge potential exists in the conventional sense. The dual action thus obtained describes a current- current, static interaction within the bulk volume bounded by the d - 1-bra ne. Guided by these results, we then construct a general expression for the parent Lagrangian that allows for a unified treatment of p-duality, even i n the presence of external currents, using a first order formalism instead of the Bianchi identities. Finally, we show how this generalized dualizatio n approach can accommodate the inclusion of a massive topological term in t he parent action of an Abelian gauge theory. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.