Closed String Tachyons in Non-supersymmetric Heterotic Theories

TL;DR

This paper explores the relationship between supersymmetric and non-supersymmetric heterotic theories by calculating partition functions on Melvin backgrounds, revealing their equivalence under certain conditions and suggesting a broader duality framework.

Contribution

It demonstrates that non-supersymmetric heterotic theories can be viewed as supersymmetric theories on specific supersymmetry-breaking backgrounds, extending duality concepts.

Findings

Partition functions for heterotic theories match in certain limits.

Non-supersymmetric theories are equivalent to supersymmetric ones on specific backgrounds.

Supports a conjecture relating heterotic dualities to background configurations.

Abstract

We calculate partition functions for supersymmetric heterotic theories on Melvin background with Wilson line. These functions coincide with partition functions for some of non-supersymmetric heterotic theories in appropriate limits. This suggests that non-supersymmetric heterotic theories are equivalent to supersymmetric theories on supersymmetry-breaking backgrounds, just as in the case of recently conjectured IIA-0A duality.