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String Theory Demystified

String Theory Demystified

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Dualities<br />

192 <strong>String</strong> <strong>Theory</strong> Demystifi ed<br />

HETEROTIC SO(32)<br />

There are two heterotic theories that both describe closed, oriented strings. A heterotic<br />

theory is a kind of fusion between bosonic and superstring theory. The left movers<br />

and right movers are treated using different theories. We describe modes moving in<br />

one direction using bosonic string theory, and describe the modes moving in the<br />

opposite direction using N = 1 supersymmetry. The extra 16 dimensions of the bosonic<br />

theory are regarded as abstract, mathematical entities rather than actual space-time<br />

coordinates (like superspace). There are two heterotic theories, both with large gauge<br />

groups that can describe all particles in nature. The fi rst has SO(32).<br />

HETEROTIC E 8 × E 8<br />

Similar to Heterotic SO(32) theory but has the gauge group E × E . 8 8<br />

The state of string theory at this point appears to be a random mess, but the discovery<br />

of a set of dualities which relate the fi ve theories amongst themselves saved the day.<br />

The fact is that the fi ve theories are all related to one another, and we can transform<br />

between them. This has led physicists to believe that there exists an underlying<br />

theory. The fi ve superstring theories arise as different aspects or solutions of the<br />

underlying theory. While some aspects of the potentially underlying theory have<br />

been characterized, the actual underlying theory remains unknown. It goes by the<br />

name of M-theory.<br />

T-DUALITY<br />

We have already studied one duality in detail in Chap. 8, T-duality. To review Tduality<br />

relates a theory with a small compact dimension to a theory where that same<br />

dimension is large. T-duality relates string theories as follows:<br />

• It relates type II A and type II B theory.<br />

• It relates the two heterotic theories.<br />

T-duality can be summarized by saying that if we transform from a small to a<br />

large distance scale we exchange momentum and winding modes (and vice versa).<br />

T-duality relates type II A and type II B theory in that if we move from small to<br />

large distance in type II A theory, the theory is transformed into type II B theory and

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