On T-duality for open strings in general abelian and nonabelian gauge field backgrounds

TL;DR

This paper explores T-duality for open strings in various gauge backgrounds, addressing boundary conditions and the concept of matrix-valued string endpoints, advancing understanding of string dualities in complex backgrounds.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive treatment of T-duality for open strings in both abelian and nonabelian gauge fields, including boundary conditions and matrix-valued endpoints.

Findings

T-duality can be formulated via functional integrals and canonical transformations.

Dirichlet boundary conditions in dual theories are treated as constraints.

Matrix-valued string endpoints are given a meaningful interpretation in nonabelian backgrounds.

Abstract

We discuss T-duality for open strings in general background fields both in the functional integral formulation as well as in the language of canonical transformations. The Dirichlet boundary condition in the dual theory has to be treated as a constraint on the functional integration. Furthermore, we give meaning to the notion of matrix valued string end point position in the presence of nonabelian gauge field background.