Type IIB String Theory, S-Duality, and Generalized Cohomology

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.

26 pages, latex2e. Assumptions clarified and results highlighted. Version to appear in Nucl.Phys.B

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Cited by in corpus (30)

• Differential cohomology in a cohesive infinity-topos
• A higher stacky perspective on Chern-Simons theory
• Extended higher cup-product Chern-Simons theories
• What Does(n't) K-theory Classify?
• The Rational Higher Structure of M-theory
• Type II string theory and modularity
• Duality symmetry and the form fields of M-theory
• Gauge enhancement of super M-branes via parametrized stable homotopy theory
• Flux Quantization and the M-Theoretic Characters
• M-theory and Characteristic Classes
• Real ADE-equivariant (co)homotopy and Super M-branes
• M/F-Theory as Mf-Theory
• The global anomaly of the self-dual field in general backgrounds
• The Elliptic curves in gauge theory, string theory, and cohomology
• Twisted Morava K-theory and E-theory
• Ramond-Ramond fields and twisted differential K-theory
• Twisted topological structures related to M-branes
• A Higher Twist in String Theory
• E8 Gauge Theory and Gerbes in String Theory
• M-Theory with Framed Corners and Tertiary Index Invariants
• Anomalies of E8 gauge theory on String manifolds
• Twisted differential generalized cohomology theories and their Atiyah-Hirzebruch spectral sequence
• Cyclification of Orbifolds
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• Twisted K-Theory as a BRST Cohomology
• Flux Compactifications on Projective Spaces and The S-Duality Puzzle
• OP2 bundles in M-theory
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• Some remarks on fundamental physical F-theory