English

Heterotic M(atrix) theory at generic points in Narain moduli space

High Energy Physics - Theory 2009-10-30 v2

Abstract

Type II compactifications with varying string coupling can be described elegantly in F-theory/M-theory as compactifications on U - manifolds. Using a similar approach to describe Super Yang-Mills with a varying coupling constant, we argue that at generic points in Narain moduli space, the E8×E8E_8 \times E_8 Heterotic string compactified on T2T^2 is described in M(atrix) theory by N=4 SYM in 3+1 dimensions with base S1×CP1S^1 \times CP^1 and a holomorphically varying coupling constant. The CP1CP^1 is best described as the base of an elliptic K3 whose fibre is the complexified coupling constant of the Super Yang-Mills theory leading to manifest U-duality. We also consider the cases of the Heterotic string on S1S^1 and T3T^3. The twisted sector seems to (almost) naturally appear at precisely those points where enhancement of gauge symmetry is expected and need not be postulated. A unifying picture emerges in which the U-manifolds which describe type II orientifolds (dual to the Heterotic string) as M- or F- theory compactifications play a crucial role in Heterotic M(atrix) theory compactifications.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.hep-th/9707164,
  title  = {Heterotic M(atrix) theory at generic points in Narain moduli space},
  author = {Suresh Govindarajan},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:hep-th/9707164},
  year   = {2009}
}

Comments

LaTeX, 28 pages, no figures, Secs. 4.1 and 5.2 slightly modified, same conclusions