Dirichlet Branes and Ramond-Ramond charges

Journal Article · Thu Nov 30 23:00:00 EST 1995 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.75.4724· OSTI ID:277365

Polchinski, J ^[1]

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1. Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106-4030 (United States)

We show that D-branes, extended objects defined by mixed Dirichlet-Neumann boundary conditions, break half the supersymmetries of the type II superstring and carry a complete set of electric and magnetic Ramond-Ramond charges. The product of the electric and magnetic charges is a single Dirac unit, and the quantum of charge is that required by string duality. This is strong evidence that D-branes are intrinsic to type II string theory and are the Ramond-Ramond sources needed for string duality. Also, we find in the IIa string a 9-form potential, which gives an effective cosmological constant. {copyright} {ital 1995 The American Physical Society.}

• OSTI ID: 277365
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 26 Vol. 75; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

66 PHYSICS
BOUNDARY CONDITIONS
COSMOLOGICAL CONSTANT
DIRICHLET PROBLEM
DUALITY
ELECTRIC CHARGES
MAGNETIC FIELDS
PERTURBATION THEORY
POTENTIALS
SPACE-TIME
SUPERSTRING MODELS
SUPERSYMMETRY
SYMMETRY BREAKING