T-duality equivalences beyond string theory

Abstract

We examine a two parameter family of gravitational actions which contains higher-derivative terms. These are such that the entire action is invariant under corrected T-duality rules, which we derive explicitly. Generically this action does not describe low energy string backgrounds except for isolated choices for the parameters. Nevertheless, we demonstrate that in this theory the entropy and the temperature of generic black hole solutions are T-duality invariant. This further supports the idea put forward in our previous work that T-duality might provide physical equivalences beyond the realm of string theory.