U-duality multiplets and nonperturbative superstring states

We employ an algebraic approach for unifying perturbative and nonperturbative superstring states on an equal footing, in the form of U-duality multiplets, at all excited string levels. In compactified type-IIA supertring theory we present evidence that the multiplet is labeled by two spaces, ‘‘index’’ space and ‘‘base’’ space, on which U acts without mixing them. Both spaces are nonperturbative extensions of similar spaces that label perturbative T-duality multiplets. Base space consists of all the central charges of the 11D SUSY algebra, while index space corresponds to representations of the maximal compact subgroup K ⊂ U. This structure predicts the quantum numbers of the nonperturbative states. We also discuss whether and how U multiplets may coexist with 11-dimensional multiplets that are associated with an additional nonperturbative 11D structure that seems to be lurking behind in the underlying theory. © 1996 The American Physical Society.