Orbifolds of M-Theory and String Theory

TL;DR

The paper demonstrates that many dualities involving orbifold compactifications of M-theory derive from known dualities and introduces a new duality conjecture relating M-theory on $T^8/Z_2$ to type I string theory on $T^7$, highlighting the role of twisted sector states.

Contribution

It proposes that orbifold dualities follow from known dualities and introduces a new duality conjecture linking M-theory and type I string theory on specific tori.

Findings

Many orbifold dualities follow from known M-theory and string theory dualities.

A new duality between M-theory on $T^8/Z_2$ and type I string theory on $T^7$ is proposed.

Twisted sector states in M-theory are identified with membranes transverse to the internal manifold.

Abstract

It is shown that many of the conjectured dualities involving orbifold compactification of M-theory follow from the known dualities involving M-theory and string theory in ten dimensions, and the ansatz that orbifolding procedure commutes with the duality transformation. This ansatz also leads to a new duality conjecture, namely that M-theory compactified on $T^8/Z_2$ is dual to type I string theory on $T^7$. In this case the `twisted sector states' in M-theory live on sixteen membranes transverse to the internal manifold.