Dirichlet Branes and Ramond-Ramond Charges

Joseph Polchinski
Phys. Rev. Lett. 75, 4724 – Published 25 December 1995
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Abstract

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.

  • Received 10 October 1995

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.75.4724

©1995 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Joseph Polchinski

  • Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106-4030

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Issue

Vol. 75, Iss. 26 — 25 December 1995

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