7-branes and $Γ_0(2)$ Duality in Type 0B String Theory

Abstract

We investigate 7-branes in type 0B string theory, motivated by the recent proposal of Baykara, Dudas, and Vafa, which connects type 0B string theory with M-theory. On the $Q$-symmetric branch, the self-duality group of type 0B string theory is $Γ_0(2)$, whose Abelianization is $\mathbb{Z}\times\mathbb{Z}_4$. This implies the existence of two independent 7-brane charges. We construct explicit charge operators in terms of modular forms and identify the corresponding charged objects in gravity solutions. One is the ordinary D7-brane, while the other is a 7-brane carrying a nontrivial $\mathbb{Z}_4$ charge. We further construct a compact background consisting of eight such $\mathbb{Z}_4$ 7-branes using a restricted Weierstrass model. Remarkably, in this background the axio-dilaton is fixed to the constant value $τ=(1+\mathsf{i})/2$, which coincides with the unstable de Sitter critical point proposed in the M-theory description of type 0B string theory. We also analyze fluctuations in the $Q$-odd sector and find that, although the corresponding equations of motion are globally well-defined in this background, the closed string tachyon remains unstable. Our results provide a concrete realization of new 7-branes in type 0B string theory and clarify their relation to its strong-coupling structure.