New Type II String Theories with Sixteen Supercharges

Abstract

We present two new backgrounds of type IIA string theory preserving 16 supercharges. One is a Wilson line for (-1) to the left-moving spacetime fermion number, and the other is an orbifold by a reflection of four coordinates, along with the action of (-1) to the left-moving spacetime fermion number. The Wilson line theory has many new phenomena, including a self-duality of type IIA on a single circle, enhanced gauge symmetry at the self-dual radius, and a T-duality between uncharged and (locally) charged branes. The orbifold theory also presents many novel features, including charged, stable non-BPS D1, D3, and D5-branes pinned to the fixed locus, and an instability of the D0-brane near the fixed locus.