A Note on Marginally Stable Bound States in Type II String Theory

Abstract

Spectrum of elementary string states in type II string theory contains ultra-short multiplets that are marginally stable. $U$-duality transformation converts these states into bound states at threshold of $p$-branes carrying Ramond-Ramond charges, and wrapped around $p$-cycles of a torus. We propose a test for the existence of these marginally stable bound states. Using the recent results of Polchinski and of Witten, we argue that the spectrum of bound states of $p$-branes is in agreement with the prediction of $U$-duality.