Brane mapping under $(-1)^{F_L}$

TL;DR

This paper provides evidence that the $(-1)^{F_L}$ symmetry in Type II string theory is nonperturbative, mapping branes into different types and revealing new insights into string dualities and brane configurations.

Contribution

It demonstrates that $(-1)^{F_L}$ is a fundamental nonperturbative symmetry of Type II string theory, detailing how branes transform under this symmetry.

Findings

$(-1)^{F_L}$ is a nonperturbative symmetry similar to $SL(2, Z)$.

NS branes map to NS branes with different chiral structures.

D-branes map to unstable non-supersymmetric D-branes with D(p-1)-branes as kink solutions.

Abstract

We present the evidence that $(-1)^{F_L}$ is a nonperturbative symmetry of Type II string theory. We argue that $(-1)^{F_L}$ is a symmetry of string theory as much as the $SL(2, Z)$ of the Type II string is and how the branes are mapped under the $(-1)^{F_L}$ modding. NS branes are mapped into the NS branes with the same world volume dimensions but with the different chiral structure. Supersymmetric Dp-branes (bound with anti-Dp branes) are mapped to unstable nonsupersymmetric Dp-branes, which has D(p-1)-branes as kink solutions according to Horava.