English

A Duality Web for Non-Supersymmetric Strings

High Energy Physics - Theory 2026-04-10 v1

Abstract

Motivated by the recently proposed geometric descriptions of 0A and 0B in M-theory and F-theory, we propose a web of duality among non-supersymmetric strings. In particular we argue that the distinct Z2\mathbb{Z}_2 quotients of M-theory on S1S1S^1\vee S^1 lead to both 0A orientifolds as well as non-supersymmetric 10d heterotic vacua of the E-type, including the tachyon-free SO(16)×SO(16)SO(16)\times SO(16) strings. Moreover we identify certain Z2\mathbb{Z}_2 quotients of F-theory on (S1S1)×S1(S^1\vee S^1)\times S^1 with 0B orientifolds (including a tachyon-free model) as well as others with dual to non-supersymmetric heterotic strings of the D-type. Moreover using this picture we resolve some puzzles and provide further evidence for the Bergman-Gaberdiel duality between a particular 0B orientifold in 10 dimensions and the Narain compactification of 26-dimensional bosonic strings on a 16-dimensional torus, as well as the DMS conjecture of a 0A orientifold duality in 10d with a bosonic string orientifold of a Narain compactification to 10d.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2604.07433,
  title  = {A Duality Web for Non-Supersymmetric Strings},
  author = {Zihni Kaan Baykara and Matilda Delgado and Emilian Dudas and Hector Parra De Freitas and Cumrun Vafa},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2604.07433},
  year   = {2026}
}

Comments

35 pages

R2 v1 2026-07-01T11:59:52.409Z