Dualities of Type 0 Strings
O. Bergman, M. R. Gaberdiel
TL;DR
This work places the non-supersymmetric Type 0A and Type 0B string theories within the M-theory framework by identifying specific SUSY-breaking orbifolds, $S^1/(-1)^{F^s}\cdot S$ for Type 0A and a zero-volume $T^2/(-1)^{F^s}\cdot S$ for Type 0B, and analyzes the resulting tachyon dynamics and dualities. It predicts that the Type 0A tachyon becomes massive at strong coupling, implying a flow toward eleven dimensions, and argues for non-perturbative fermionic states in Type 0A arising from bound states of D-particles, potentially matching fermionic KK modes in the M-theory orbifold. The paper also investigates T-/S-duality relations, smooth orbifold deformations, and the non-perturbative consistency of open-string orientifolds, showing that some models are constrained or ruled out by their M-theory lifts. Together, these results illuminate how non-supersymmetric string theories can be embedded in a broader eleven-dimensional framework and guide future explorations of their gauge-theory duals and non-perturbative spectra.
Abstract
It is conjectured that the two closed bosonic string theories, Type 0A and Type 0B, correspond to certain supersymmetry breaking orbifold compactifications of M-theory. Various implications of this conjecture are discussed, in particular the behaviour of the tachyon at strong coupling and the existence of non-perturbative fermionic states in Type 0A. The latter are shown to correspond to bound states of Type 0A D-particles, thus providing further evidence for the conjecture. We also give a comprehensive description of the various Type 0 closed and open string theories.