Duality, Compactification, and $e^{-1/\lambda}$ Effects in the Heterotic String Theory

TL;DR

This paper identifies two classes of non-perturbative instanton effects in heterotic string theory, established through dualities, which vanish at large compactification radius and are computable via worldsheet or worldline instantons.

Contribution

It introduces two new classes of instanton effects in heterotic string theory and demonstrates their computation through duality relations, extending understanding of non-perturbative phenomena.

Findings

Two classes of instanton effects identified in heterotic string theory.

Effects vanish as compactification radius approaches infinity.

Some effects are computable via worldsheet or worldline instantons.

Abstract

Two classes of stringy instanton effects, stronger than standard field theory instantons, are identified in the heterotic string theory. These contributions are established using type IIA/heterotic and type I/heterotic dualities. They provide examples for the heterotic case of the effects predicted by Shenker based on the large-order behavior of perturbation theory. The corrections vanish as the radius of the compactification goes to infinity. For appropriate amplitudes, they are computable worldsheet or worldline instanton effects on the dual side. Some potential applications are discussed.