T duality

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In elementary particle physics, the T-duality is a property of various superstring theories , which contributed significantly to the development of the M-theory . The T-duality specifically describes the possibly identical descriptions of the type II string theories (type IIA and type IIB) made compatible by it and between the two heterotic string theories E8xE8 and SO (32).

description

T-duality can combine two theories whose compactized dimensions have the radius R and 1 / R. It can exchange the winding and oscillation modes of the strings. In 1995 Witten was able to show that the string theories of type IIA and IIB are dual to one another, i.e. can be converted into one another. If you take z. B. the reciprocal compactification radius of a universe, which is based on type IIA, and exchanges their winding and oscillation modes, one obtains a universe which is based on strings of type IIB.

Derivation to the M-theory

The fact that two (super) string theories can possibly be T-dual or S-dual to one another led Witten to assume in 1995 that all string theories as well as supergravity are only part of a larger, more comprehensive theory that he then tried to develop . He also discovered that when the coupling constant of an (e-heterotic) string is increased, it becomes a 2-manifold, a membrane.

The theory that describes these facts is the M-theory, which, however, has not yet been fully understood.