Heterotic T-Duality and the Renormalization Group

TL;DR

This paper investigates how target space T-duality constrains the renormalization group flows in heterotic sigma models, showing that classical T-duality remains a quantum symmetry at one loop and influencing anomaly considerations.

Contribution

It demonstrates that T-duality imposes unique constraints on the gauge beta function in heterotic sigma models without explicit diagram calculations.

Findings

T-duality constrains renormalization flows at one loop

Classical T-duality is a quantum symmetry in heterotic models

Duality considerations inform anomaly cancellation

Abstract

We consider target space duality transformations for heterotic sigma models and strings away from renormalization group fixed points. By imposing certain consistency requirements between the T-duality symmetry and renormalization group flows, the one loop gauge beta function is uniquely determined, without any diagram calculations. Classical T-duality symmetry is a valid quantum symmetry of the heterotic sigma model, severely constraining its renormalization flows at this one loop order. The issue of heterotic anomalies and their cancelation is addressed from this duality constraining viewpoint.