Classical Geometry and Target Space Duality

Abstract

This is the written version of lectures presented at Cargese 95. A new formulation for a ``restricted'' type of target space duality in classical two dimensional nonlinear sigma models is presented. The main idea is summarized by the analogy: euclidean geometry is to riemannian geometry as toroidal target space duality is to ``restricted'' target space duality. The target space is not required to possess symmetry. These lectures only discuss the local theory. The restricted target space duality problem is identified with an interesting problem in classical differential geometry.