Lectures on Superstring and M Theory Dualities

TL;DR

This paper reviews the development of dualities in superstring and M theory, highlighting evidence for S duality, the unification of five superstring theories, and the role of p-branes and supersymmetric vacua.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of superstring dualities, including recent discoveries and the connection to M theory and p-branes, with emphasis on heterotic-heterotic duality.

Findings

Evidence for S duality in 4d heterotic string

Unification of five superstring theories via dualities

Survey of supersymmetric vacua and heterotic-heterotic duality

Abstract

These lectures begin by reviewing the evidence for S duality of the toroidally compactified heterotic string in 4d that was obtained in the period 1992--94. Next they review recently discovered dualities that relate all five of the 10d superstring theories and a quantum extension of 11d supergravity called M theory. The study of p-branes of various dimensions (some of which are D-branes) plays a central role. The final sections survey supersymmetric string vacua in 6d and some of the dual constructions by which they can be obtained. Special emphasis is given to a class of N=1 models that exhibit ``heterotic-heterotic duality.''