Kaluza–Klein reduction on a maximally non-Riemannian space is moduli-free

We propose a novel Kaluza–Klein scheme which assumes the internal space to be maximally non-Riemannian, meaning that no Riemannian metric can be defined for any subspace. Its description is only possible through Double Field Theory but not within supergravity. We spell out the corresponding Scherk–Schwarz twistable Kaluza–Klein ansatz, and point out that the internal space prevents rigidly any graviscalar moduli. Plugging the same ansatz into higher-dimensional pure Double Field Theory and also to a known doubled-yet-gauged string action, we recover heterotic supergravity as well as heterotic worldsheet action. In this way, we show that 1) supergravity and Yang–Mills theory can be unified into higher-dimensional pure Double Field Theory, free of moduli, and 2) heterotic string theory may have a higher-dimensional non-Riemannian origin.