Type IIB string theory, S-duality, and generalized cohomology
Oct, 2004Citations per year
Abstract:
In the presence of background Neveu-Schwarz flux, the description of the Ramond-Ramond fields of type IIB string theory using twisted K-theory is not compatible with S-duality. We argue that other possible variants of twisted K-theory would still not resolve this issue. We propose instead a possible path to a solution using elliptic cohomology. We also discuss T-duality relation of this to a previous proposal for IIA theory, and higher-dimensional limits. In the process, we obtain some other results which may be interesting on their own. In particular, we prove a conjecture of Witten that the 11-dimensional spin cobordism group vanishes on K(Z,6), which eliminates a potential new theta-angle in type IIB string theory.Note:
- 26 pages, latex2e. Assumptions clarified and results highlighted. Version to appear in Nucl.Phys.B Subj-class: High Energy Physics - Theory: Algebraic Topology Journal-ref: Nucl.Phys. B715 (2005) 639-664 DOI: 10.1016/j.nuclphysb.2005.02.016
- string model
- supersymmetry
- duality: S-duality
- cohomology
- anomaly
- K-theory
- geometry: algebra
- T-duality
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