Monopoles in String Theory

TL;DR

This paper constructs E_{n+1} monopoles within string theory by relating NS five branes and orientifold planes to SU(2) monopoles, revealing new insights into their moduli spaces and dualities.

Contribution

It provides a novel realization of E_{n+1} monopoles in string theory using brane configurations and explores their moduli spaces and dualities.

Findings

Monopoles correspond to NS five branes on orientifold planes.

Moduli space of these monopoles matches that of SU(2) monopoles.

Charge conservation affects monopole dynamics and smoothness of moduli space.

Abstract

A realization of E_{n+1} monopoles in string theory is given. The NS five brane stuck to an Orientifold eight plane is identified as the 't Hooft Polyakov monopole. Correspondingly, the moduli space of many such NS branes is identified with the moduli space of SU(2) monopoles. These monopoles transform in the spinor representation of an SO(2n) gauge group when n D8 branes are stacked upon the orientifold plane. This leads to a realization of E_{n+1} monopole moduli spaces. Charge conservation leads to a dynamical effect which does not allow the NS branes to leave the orientifold plane. This suggests that the monopole moduli space is smooth for n<8. Odd n>8 obeys a similar condition. Using a chain of dualities, we also connect our system to an Heterotic background with Kaluza-Klein monopoles.