New D=6, N = (1,1) gauged supergravity with supersymmetric (Minkowski)4xS2 vacuum

We obtain a new gauged D = 6, N = (1, 1) pure supergravity by a generalised consistent Kaluza-Klein reduction of M-theory on K3 x R. The reduction requires a conspiratory gauging of both the Cremmer-Julia type global (rigid) symmetry and the homogeneous rescaling symmetry of the supergravity equations of motion. The gauged supergravity is different from the Romans D = 6 gauged supergravity in that the four vector fields in our new theory are all abelian. We show that it admits a supersymmetric (Minkowski)(4) x S-2 vacuum, which can be lifted to D = 11 where it becomes the near-horizon geometry of two intersecting M5-branes wrapping on a supersymmetric two-cycle of K3. (C) 2003 Published by Elsevier B.V.