Space-Time Symmetries, T-Duality and Gauge Theory

TL;DR

This paper explores the interplay between space-time symmetries, T-duality, and gauge transformations in string theory, revealing conditions under which dualities correspond to gauge transformations and identifying symmetries of the string action.

Contribution

It introduces a framework connecting gauge transformations with T-duality in string backgrounds, highlighting special cases where dualities are equivalent to gauge transformations.

Findings

Certain gauge transformations are symmetries of the string action.

General T-duality transformations for background fields are derived.

For specific backgrounds, T-duality reduces to a gauge transformation.

Abstract

In this paper we study U(1) gauge transformations on the space-time coordinates and on the background fields $g_{\mu\nu}$ and $\phi$. For some special gauge functions, gauged coordinates and gauged U(1) field are equivalent to the rotated coordinates and rotated gauge field. We find gauge transformations that are symmetries of the string action. Also we obtain general $T$-duality transformations for the background fields. For special background fields this duality is equivalent to a gauge transformation.