Spinor-Vector Duality in Heterotic String Orbifolds

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a duality between spinor and vector representations in heterotic string orbifold models, revealing a symmetry that connects different string vacua and deepens understanding of string model classification.

Contribution

It establishes the existence of spinor-vector duality in heterotic string orbifolds and relates it to free fermionic models, advancing the classification of string vacua.

Findings

Confirmed the spinor-vector duality using orbifold techniques

Linked orbifold models to free fermionic constructions

Enhanced understanding of string vacua symmetries

Abstract

The three generation heterotic-string models in the free fermionic formulation are among the most realistic string vacua constructed to date, which motivated their detailed investigation. The classification of free fermion heterotic string vacua has revealed a duality under the exchange of spinor and vector representations of the SO(10) GUT symmetry over the space of models. We demonstrate the existence of the spinor-vector duality using orbifold techniques, and elaborate on the relation of these vacua to free fermionic models.