Why are fractional charges of orientifolds compatible with Dirac quantization?

Abstract

Orientifold $p$-planes with $p\le 4$ have fractional D$p$-charges, and therefore appear inconsistent with Dirac quantization with respect to D$(6-p)$-branes. We explain in detail how this issue is resolved by taking into account the anomaly of the worldvolume fermions using the $\eta$ invariants. We also point out relationships to the classification of interacting fermionic symmetry protected topological phases. In an appendix, we point out that the duality group of type IIB string theory is the pin+ version of the double cover of $GL(2,\mathbb{Z})$.

34 pages, v2: minor improvements, including the clarification that we treat O+ planes in this paper

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