DUALITY SYMMETRY GROUP OF TWO DIMENSIONAL HETEROTIC STRING THEORY

TL;DR

This paper investigates the embedding of discrete S- and T-duality symmetries within the affine o(8,24) symmetry algebra of two-dimensional heterotic string theory, clarifying the structure of its duality group.

Contribution

It identifies how known discrete duality symmetries are embedded in the affine symmetry algebra of the theory, revealing the generators of the duality group.

Findings

Discrete duality symmetries are embedded in the affine o(8,24) algebra.

The generators of the duality group are explicitly identified.

The structure of the duality symmetry group is clarified.

Abstract

The equations of motion of the massless sector of the two dimensional string theory, obtained by compactifying the heterotic string theory on an eight dimensional torus, is known to have an affine o(8,24) symmetry algebra generating an O(8,24) loop group. In this paper we study how various known discrete S- and T- duality symmetries of the theory are embedded in this loop group. This allows us to identify the generators of the discrete duality symmetry group of the two dimensional string theory.