In heterotic string theory compactified on T^6, the T-duality orbits of dyons of charge (Q,P) are characterized by O(6,22;R) invariants Q^2, P^2 and Q.P together with a set of invariants of the discrete T-duality group O(6,22;Z). We study the action of S-duality group on the discrete T-duality invariants and study its consequence for the dyon degeneracy formula. In particular we find that for dyons with torsion r, the degeneracy formula, expressed as a function of Q^2, P^2 and Q.P, is required to be manifestly invariant under only a subgroup of the S-duality group. This subgroup is isomorphic to Γ^0(r). Our analysis also shows that for a given torsion r, all other discrete T-duality invariants are characterized by the elements of the coset SL(2,Z)/Γ^0(r).
We walk out the landscape of K-theoretic Poincare Duality for finite algebras. It paves the way to get continuum Dirac operators from discrete noncommutative manifolds.
Generators for the discrete U-duality groups of toroidally compactified M-theory in d>3 are presented and used to determine the d=3 U-duality group. This contribution summarizes the results of hep-th/9909150.
Duality Symmetry is studied for heterotic string orbifold compactifications in the presence of a general background which in addition to the metric and antisymmetric tensor contains both discrete and continuous Wilson lines background.
We give a manifestly U-duality invariant formula for the degeneracy of 1/8 BPS dyons in type II string theory on T^6 for a U-duality invariant subset of charge vectors. Besides depending on the Cremmer-Julia invariant the degeneracy also depends on other discrete invariants of E_{7(7)}(Z).
As an extension of the Ivanov-Zupnik approach to self-dual nonlinear electrodynamics in four dimensions [1,2], we reformulate U(1) duality-invariant nonlinear models for a gauge $(2p-1)$-form in $d=4p$ dimensions as field theories with manifestly U(1) invariant self-interactions. This reformulation is suitable to generate arbitrary duality-invariant nonlinear systems including those with higher derivatives.
We present duality invariant structure of the thermodynamic quantities of non-extreme black hole solutions of torodially compactified Type II (M-theory) and heterotic string in five and four dimensions. These quantities are parameterized by duality invariant combinations of charges and the non-extremality parameter, which measures a deviation from the BPS-saturated limit. In particular, in D=5 we find explicit S- and T-duality [U-duality] invariant expressions for solutions of toroidally compactified heterotic string [Type II string]. In D=4, we consider general S-duality invariant expressions…
This thesis investigates the quantum properties of T-duality invariant formalisms of String Theory. We introduce and review duality invariant formalisms of String Theory including the Doubled Formalism. We calculate the background field equations for the Doubled Formalism of Abelian T-duality and show how they are consistent with those of a conventional String Theory description of a toroidal compactification. We generalise these considerations to the case of Poisson--Lie T-duality and show that the system of renormalisation group equations obtained from the duality invariant parent theory are…
The quantum discrete Liouville model in the strongly coupled regime, 1<c<25, is formulated as a well defined quantum mechanical problem with unitary evolution operator. The theory is self-dual: there are two exponential fields related by Hermitean conjugation, satisfying two discrete quantum Liouville equations, and living in mutually commuting subalgebras of the quantum algebra of observables.
Some results are presented concerning duality invariant effective string actions and the construction of automorphic functions for general (2,2) string compactifications. These considerations are applied in order to discuss the {\it minimal} unification of gauge coupling constants in orbifold compactifications with special emphasis on string threshold corrections.
We present an Sp(2n,R) duality invariant Born-Infeld U(1)^2n gauge theory with scalar fields. To implement this duality we had to introduce complex gauge fields and as a result the rank of the duality group is only half as large as that of the corresponding Maxwell gauge theory with the same number of gauge fields. The latter is self-dual under Sp(4n,R), the largest allowed duality group. A special case appears for n=1 when one can also write an SL(2,R) duality invariant Born-Infeld theory with a real gauge field. We also describe the supersymmetric version of the above construction.
While the classification of $α'$ corrections of string inspired effective theories remains an unsolved problem, we show how to classify duality invariant $α'$ corrections for purely time-dependent (cosmological) backgrounds. We determine the most general duality invariant theory to all orders in $α'$ for the metric, $b$-field, and dilaton. The resulting Friedmann equations are studied when the spatial metric is a time-dependent scale factor times the Euclidean metric and the $b$-field vanishes. These equations can be integrated perturbatively to any order in $α'$. We construct non-perturbative…
T-Duality invariant worldsheet string actions, recently written down by Schwarz and Sen, are coupled to the worldsheet gauge fields. It is shown that the integration of the dual coordinates gives the conventional, vector, axial and chiral, gauged string actions for the appropriate choice of the gauged isometries. Alternatively, the gauge field integration is shown to give a T-duality invariant action which matches with the corresponding results known earlier.
We analyse D-branes on orbifolds with discrete torsion, extending earlier results. We analyze certain Abelian orbifolds of the type C^3/ Γ, where Γis given by Z_m x Z_n, for the most general choice of discrete torsion parameter. By comparing with the AdS/CFT correspondence, we can consider different geometries which give rise to the same physics. This identifies new mirror pairs and suggests new dualities at large N. As a by-product we also get a more geometric picture of discrete torsion.
The duality-invariant gaugino condensation with or without massive matter fields is re-analysed, taking into account the dependence of the string threshold corrections on the moduli fields and recent results concerning one-loop corrected Kähler potentials. The scalar potential of the theory for a generic superpotential is also calculated.
In extended supergravity theories there are $p$-brane solutions preserving different numbers of supersymmetries, depending on the charges, the spacetime dimension and the number of original supersymmetries (8, 16 or 32). We find U-duality invariant conditions on the quantized charges which specify the number of supersymmetries preserved with a particular charge configuration. These conditions relate U-duality invariants to the picture of intersecting branes. The analysis is carried out for all extended supergravities with 16 or 32 supersymmetries in various dimensions.
We find general non-linear lagrangians of a U(1) field invariant under electric-magnetic duality. They are characterized by an arbitrary function and go to the Maxwell theory in the weak field limit. We give some explicit examples which are generalizations of the Born-Infeld theory.
We construct the non-linear realisation of the semi-direct product of E(11) and its first fundamental representation at lowest order and appropriate to spacetime dimensions four to seven. This leads to a non-linear realisation of the duality groups and introduces fields that depend on a generalised space which possess a generalised vielbein. We focus on the part of the generalised space on which the duality groups alone act and construct an invariant action.
We discuss the relationship between target space modular invariance and discrete gauge symmetries in four-dimensional orbifold-like strings. First we derive the modular transformation properties of various string vertex operators of the massless string fields. Then we find that for supersymmetric compactifications the action of the duality elements, leaving invariant the multicritical points, corresponds to a combination of finite Kähler and gauge transformations. However, those finite gauge transformations are not elements of a remnant discrete gauge symmetry. We suggest that, at least in the…
New heterotic modular invariants are found using the level-rank duality of affine Kac-Moody algebras. They provide strong evidence for the consistency of an infinite list of heterotic Wess-Zumino-Witten (WZW) conformal field theories. We call the basic construction the dual-flip, since it flips chirality (exchanges left and right movers) and takes the level-rank dual. We compare the dual-flip to the method of conformal subalgebras, another way of constructing heterotic invariants. To do so, new level-one heterotic invariants are first found; the complete list of a specified subclass of these i…
Worldsheet supersymmetric string action is written in duality invariant form for flat as well as curved backgrounds. First the action in flat backgrounds is written by introducing auxiliary fields. We also give the superfield form of this action and obtain the offshell supersymmetry algebra. The action has a modified Lorentz invariance and supersymmetry and reduces to the usual form when the auxiliary fields are eliminated using their equations of motion. Supersymmetric nonlinear sigma model in curved backgrounds is also written in manifestly duality invariant form when the background metric a…
We consider the reduction of the duality invariant approach to M-theory by a U-duality group valued Scherk-Schwarz twist. The result is to produce potentials for gauged supergravities that are normally associated with non-geometric compactifications. The local symmetry reduces to gauge transformations with the gaugings exactly matching those of the embedding tensor approach to gauged supergravity. Importantly, this approach now includes a nontrivial dependence of the fields on the extra coordinates of the extended space.
Using U-duality transformations we map perturbative Type IIA string theory compactified on a class of Joyce 7-manifolds to a D-strings on D-manifold description in Type IIB theory. For perturbative Type IIB theory on the same class of Joyce manifolds we use duality transformations to map to an M-theory, M-manifold description, which is an orientifold with fivebrane twisted sectors. D and M-manifold descriptions of discrete torsion are found. For the same class of compactifications we show that Type IIA/IIB theory on a Joyce orbifold without (with) discrete torsion is T-dual to Type IIB/IIA the…
General permutation invariant statistics in the second quantized approach are considered. Simple interpolations between dual statistics are constructed. Particularly, we present a new minimal interpolation between parabosons and parafermions of any order. The connection with a simple mixing between bosons and fermions is established. The construction is extended to anyonic-like statistics.
A generalized gauge invariant Ising model on random surfaces with non-trivial topology is proposed and investigated with the dual transformation. It is proved that the model is self-dual in case of a self-dual lattice. In special cases the model reduces to the known solvable Ising-type models.
Motivated by a recent progress in studying the duality-symmetric models of nonlinear electrodynamics, we revert to the auxiliary tensorial (bispinor) field formulation of the O(2) duality proposed by us in arXiv:hep-th/0110074, arXiv:hep-th/0303192. In this approach, the entire information about the given duality-symmetric system is encoded in the O(2) invariant interaction Lagrangian which is a function of the auxiliary fields V_{αβ}, \bar V_{\dot α\dot β}. We extend this setting to duality-symmetric systems with higher derivatives and show that the recently employed "nonlinear twisted self-d…
We present $\mathcal{N}=2$ superconformal $\mathsf{U}(1)$ duality-invariant models for an Abelian vector multiplet coupled to conformal supergravity. In a Minkowski background, such a nonlinear theory is expected to describe (the planar part of) the low-energy effective action for the $\mathcal{N}=4$ $\mathsf{SU}(N)$ super-Yang-Mills (SYM) theory on its Coulomb branch where (i) the gauge group $\mathsf{SU}(N)$ is spontaneously broken to $\mathsf{SU}(N-1) \times \mathsf{U}(1)$; and (ii) the dynamics is captured by a single $\mathcal{N}=2$ vector multiplet associated with the $\mathsf{U}(1)$ fac…
We survey a new approach to the duality-invariant systems of nonlinear electrodynamics, based on introducing auxiliary bi-spinor fields. In this approach, the entire information about the given self-dual system is encoded in the U(1) invariant interaction of the auxiliary fields, while the standard self-dual Lagrangians appear on shell as a result of eliminating auxiliary fields by their equations of motion. Starting from the simplest U(1) duality, we show how this approach can be generalized to the U(N) duality (with N independent Maxwell field strengths), as well as to self-dual systems of {…
We show that dualization of Stueckelberg-like massive gauge theories and $B\wedge F$ models, follows form a general p-dualization of interacting theories in d spacetime dimensions. This is achieved by a particular choice of the external current.
In this work, we show that duality symmetry can be implemented for massive theories at the level of the action, whenever we can formulate appropriates gauge invariant actions. For a massive vectorial field, we use a known gauge invariant description, while for a massive graviton, we introduce a novel gauge invariant action in order to show duality invariance.
We consider possible conformal field theory (CFT) descriptions of the various inertial ranges that exist in $2d$ duality invariant Magnetohydrodynamics. Such models arise as effective theories of dyonic plasmas in 3 dimensions in which all fields are independent of the third coordinate. We find new constraints on the allowed CFT's compared to those that may describe turbulence in $2d$ plasmas of electric charges only. The predictions from CFT concerning equipartition of energy amongst the electric and magnetic fields are discussed, and quantities exhibiting universal scaling are derived.
We find the topological entropy formula for all $N>2$ extended supergravities in five dimensions and the fixed scalar condition for the black-hole ``potential energy'' which extremizes the BPS mass. We comment upon the interpretation of these results in a string and M-theory setting.
We study general two-dimensional sigma-models which do not possess manifest Lorentz invariance. We show how demanding that Lorentz invariance is recovered as an emergent on-shell symmetry constrains these sigma-models. The resulting actions have an underlying group-theoretic structure and resemble Poisson-Lie T-duality invariant actions. We consider the one-loop renormalization of these models and show that the quantum Lorentz anomaly is absent. We calculate the running of the couplings in general and show, with certain non-trivial examples, that this agrees with that of the T-dual models obta…
We analyze a recent conjecture regarding the perturbative construction of non-linear deformations of all classically duality invariant theories, including N=8 supergravity. Starting with an initial quartic deformation, we engineer a procedure that generates a particular non-linear deformation (Born-Infeld) of the Maxwell theory. This procedure requires the introduction of an infinite number of modifications to a constraint which eliminates degrees of freedom consistent with the duality and field content of the system. We discuss the extension of this procedure to N=1 and N=2 supersymmetric the…
We discuss the different discrete duality symmetries in six dimensions that act within and between (i) the 10-dimensional heterotic string compactified on $T^4$, (ii) the 10-dimensional Type IIA string compactified on $K3$ and (iii) the 10-dimensional Type IIB string compactified on $K3$. In particular we show that the underlying group-theoretical structure of these discrete duality symmetries is determined by the proper cubic group ${\cal C}/\Z_2$. Our group theoretical interpretation leads to simple rules for constructing the explicit form of the different discrete Type II duality symmetries…
We analyze non-linear interactions of 2N-form Maxwell fields in a space-time of dimension D=4N. Based on the Pasti-Sorokin-Tonin (PST) method, we derive the general consistency condition for the dynamics to respect both manifest SO(2)-duality invariance and manifest Lorentz invariance. For a generic dimension D=4N, we determine a canonical class of exact solutions of this condition, which represent a generalization of the known non-linear duality invariant Maxwell theories in D=4. The resulting theories are shown to be equivalent to a corresponding class of canonical theories formulated a la G…
We establish a relation between time-like, light-like and space-like orbits of the non-compact E{7(7)}(R)symmetry and discrete E{7(7)}(Z) invariants. We discuss the U-duality invariant formula for the degeneracy of states d(Q) which in the approximation of large occupation numbers reproduces the Bekenstein-Hawking entropy formula for regular black holes with AdS_2 horizon. We explain why the states belonging to light-like orbits, corresponding to classical solutions of "light black holes with null singularity", decouple from the corresponding index. We also present a separate U-duality invaria…
Doubled $α'$-geometry is the simplest higher-derivative gravitational theory with exact global duality symmetry. We use the double metric formulation of this theory to compute on-shell three-point functions to all orders in $α'$. A simple pattern emerges when comparing with the analogous bosonic and heterotic three-point functions. As in these theories, the amplitudes factorize. The theory has no Gauss-Bonnet term, but contains a Riemann-cubed interaction to second order in $α'$.
We compute, for cosmological backgrounds, the $O(d,d;\mathbb{R})$ invariant beta functions for the sigma model of the bosonic string at two loops. This yields an independent first-principle derivation of the order $α'$ corrections to the cosmological target-space equations. To this end we revisit the quantum consistency of Tseytlin's duality invariant formulation of the worldsheet theory. While we confirm the absence of gravitational (and hence Lorentz) anomalies, our results show that the minimal subtraction scheme is not applicable, implying significant technical complications at higher loop…
We study aspects of Heterotic/F-theory duality for compactifications with Abelian discrete gauge symmetries. We consider F-theory compactifications on genus-one fibered Calabi-Yau manifolds with n-sections, associated with the Tate-Shafarevich group Z_n. Such models are obtained by studying first a specific toric set-up whose associated Heterotic vector bundle has structure group Z_n. By employing a conjectured Heterotic/F-theory mirror symmetry we construct dual geometries of these original toric models, where in the stable degeneration limit we obtain a discrete gauge symmetry of order two a…
We derive explicitly the superpotential W for the non-BPS branch of N=2 extremal black holes in terms of duality invariants of special geometry. Although this is done for a one-modulus case (the t^3 model), the example gives $Z \neq 0$ black holes and captures the basic distinction from previous attempts on the quadratic series (vanishing C tensor) and from the other Z=0 cases. The superpotential W turns out to be a non-polynomial expression (containing radicals) of the basic duality invariant quantities. These are the same which enter in the quartic invariant I_4 for N=2 theories based on sym…
The Riemann curvature correction to the type II supergravity at eight-derivative level is given schematically as $(t_8t_8+{1}{8}\eps_{10}\eps_{10})R^4$ at tree-level. The replacement of the generalized Riemann curvature in $t_8t_8R^4$, proposed by Gross and Sloan, produces various NS-NS couplings which are invariant under T-duality. Recently, using the combination of S-duality and T-duality transformations on these couplings, we have found groups of couplings which are invariant under the S-duality transformation. In this paper, we have examined the couplings involving the dilaton with direct …
It is well known that under T-duality the sigma model dilaton (which is normally thought to be related to the string coupling constant through the simple formula $κ= exp <ϕ>$), undergoes an additive shift. On the other hand, Kugo and Zwiebach, using a simplified form of string field theory, claim that the string coupling constant does not change under the T-duality. Obviously, what seems to happen is that two different coupling constants, associated to different dilatons, are used. In this contribution we shall try to clarify this, and related issues.
We have examined quantum theories of electric magnetic duality invariant vector fields enjoying classical conformal invariance in 4-dimensional flat spacetime. We extend Dirac's argument about "the conditions for a quantum field theory to be relativistic" to "those for a quantum theory to be conformal". We realize that electric magnetic duality invariant vector theories together with classical conformal invariance defined in 4-$d$ flat spacetime are still conformally invariant theories when they are quantized in a way that electric magnetic duality is manifest.
We classify 2-center extremal black hole charge configurations through duality-invariant homogeneous polynomials, which are the generalization of the unique invariant quartic polynomial for single-center black holes based on homogeneous symmetric cubic special Kaehler geometries. A crucial role is played by an horizontal SL(p,R) symmetry group, which classifies invariants for p-center black holes. For p = 2, a (spin 2) quintet of quartic invariants emerge. We provide the minimal set of independent invariants for the rank-3 N = 2, d = 4 stu model, and for its lower-rank descendants, namely the …
We study the Euler numbers and the entropies of the non-extremal intersecting D-branes in ten-dimensions. We use the surface gravity to constrain the compactification radii. We correctly obtain the integer valued Euler numbers for these radii. Moreover, the entropies are found to be invariant under the T-duality transformation. In the extremal limit, we obtain the finite entropies only for two intersecting D-branes. We observe that these entropies are proportional to the product of the charges of each D-brane. We further study the entropies of the boosted metrics. We find that their entropies …
Two different massive gauge invariant spin-one theories in $3+1$ dimensions, one Stuckelberg formulation and the other `$B^{\wedge}F$' theory, with Kalb-Ramond field are shown to be related by duality. This is demonstrated by gauging the global symmetry in the model and constraining the corresponding dual field strength to be zero by a Lagrange multiplier, which becomes a field in the dual theory. Implication of this equivalence to the $5$ dimensional theories from which these theories can be obtained is discussed. The self-dual Deser-Jackiw model in $2+1$ dimensions, is also shown to result b…
The values of the $T$ and $U$ moduli are studied for those ${\bf Z}_N $ Coxeter orbifolds with the property that some of the twisted sectors have fixed planes for which the six-torus ${\bf T}^6 $ can not be decomposed into a direct sum ${\bf T}^2\bigoplus {\bf T}^4 $ with the fixed plane lying in ${\bf T}^2 $. Such moduli in general transform under a subgroup of the modular group $SL(2,Z).$ The moduli are determined by minimizing the effective potential derived from a duality invariant gaugino condensate.
We consider a class of $2+D$ - dimensional string backgrounds with a target space metric having a covariantly constant null Killing vector and flat `transverse' part. The corresponding sigma models are invariant under $D$ abelian isometries and are transformed by $O(D,D)$ duality into models belonging to the same class. The leading-order solutions of the conformal invariance equations (metric, antisymmetric tensor and dilaton), as well as the action of $O(D,D)$ duality transformations on them, are exact, i.e. are not modified by $\a'$-corrections. This makes a discussion of different space-tim…
We derive N = 1, 2 superfield equations as the conditions for a (nonlinear) theory of one abelian N = 1 or N = 2 vector multiplet to be duality invariant. The N = 1 super Born-Infeld action is a particular solution of the corresponding equation. A family of duality invariant nonlinear N = 1 supersymmetric theories is described. We present the solution of the N = 2 duality equation which reduces to the N = 1 Born-Infeld action when the (0,1/2) part of N = 2 vector multiplet is switched off. We also propose a constructive perturbative scheme to compute duality invariant N = 2 superconformal acti…
In this paper we discuss some aspects of the behavior of superconformal N=1 models under Seiberg's duality. Our claim is that if an electric gauge theory is superconformal on some marginal subspace of all coupling constants then its magnetic dual must be also superconformal on a corresponding moduli space of dual couplings. However this does not imply that the magnetic dual of a completely finite N=1 gauge theory is again finite. Moreover we generalize this statement conjecturing that also for non-superconformal N=1 models the determinant of the beta-function equations is invariant under Seibe…
For the SL(2,\textbf{R}) duality-invariant generalization of Maxwell electrodynamics in the presence of both electric and magnetic sources, we formulate a local, manifestly duality-symmetric, Zwanziger-type action by introducing a pair of four-potentials $A^μ$ and $B^μ$ in a judicious way. On the two potentials $A^μ$ and $B^μ$ the SL(2,\textbf{R}) duality transformation acts in a simple linear manner. In quantum theory including charged source fields, this action can be recast as a SL(2,\textbf{Z})-invariant action. Also given is a Zwanziger-type action for SL(2,\textbf{R}) duality-invariant B…
(Anti)self-dual solutions of the scale invariant SU(2) gauged Grassmanian model are sought. A stronger (anti)selfduality condition for this system is defined, referred to as strong self-duality, and spherically symmetric solutions of this {\it strong} (anti)self-duality equations are found in closed form. It is verified that these are the only solutions of the strong (anti)self-duality equations. The usual (anti)self-duality equations for the axially symmetric fields are derived and seen to be not overdetermined.
The Molien function counts the number of independent group invariants of a representation. For chiral superfields, it is invariant under duality by construction. We illustrate how it calculates the spectrum of supersymmetric gauge theories.
The $O(d,d)$ invariant worldsheet theory for bosonic string theory with $d$ abelian isometries is employed to compute the beta functions and Weyl anomaly at one-loop. We show that vanishing of the Weyl anomaly coefficients implies the equations of motion of the Maharana-Schwarz action. We give a self-contained introduction into the required techniques, including beta functions, the Weyl anomaly for two-dimensional sigma models and the background field method. This sets the stage for a sequel to this paper on generalizations to higher loops and $α'$ corrections.
