Uncovering a spinor-vector duality on a resolved orbifold

Spinor-vector dualities have been established in various exact string realisations like orbifold and free fermionic constructions. This paper aims to investigate possibility of having spinor-vector dualities on smooth geometries in the context of the heterotic string. As a concrete working example the resolution of the T-4/Z(2) orbifold is considered with an additional circle supporting a Wilson line, for which it is known that the underlying orbifold theory exhibits such a duality by switching on/off a generalised discrete torsion phase between the orbifold twist and the Wilson line. Depending on this phase complementary parts of the twisted sector orbifold states are projected out, so that different blowup modes are available to generate the resolutions. As a consequence, not only the spectra of the dual pairs are different, but also the gauge groups are not identical making this duality less apparent on the blowup and thus presumably on smooth geometries in general. (C) 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Automated summary

Spinor-vector dualities have been established in various exact string realisations, and this paper investigates the possibility of such dualities on smooth geometries within the context of the heterotic string. Using the example of the resolution of the T-4/Z(2) orbifold with an additional circle supporting a Wilson line, the paper shows how complementary parts of the twisted sector orbifold states can be projected out to generate different resolutions. This leads to different spectra and gauge groups for the dual pairs, making the duality less apparent on smooth geometries.