SL(2, Z) Duality and Magnetically Charged Strings

TL;DR

This paper explores the implications of SL(2,Z) duality in heterotic string theory, revealing the existence of magnetically charged dual strings and analyzing their interactions and charge exchange during scattering.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of dual strings carrying both electric and magnetic charges and studies their scattering interactions within SL(2,Z) invariant heterotic string theory.

Findings

Dual strings carry both electric and magnetic charges.

Scattering exchanges fixed amounts of electric and magnetic charges.

SL(2,Z) invariance implies new dual string states.

Abstract

Postulate of SL(2,\Z) invariance of toroidally compactified heterotic string theory in four dimensions implies the existence of new string (dual string) states carrying both, electric and magnetic charges. In this paper we study the interaction between these dual strings. In particular, we consider scattering of two such strings in the limit where one string passes through the other string without touching it, and show that such a scattering leads to the exchange of a fixed amount of electric and magnetic charges between the two strings.