Strong-weak coupling duality in three dimensional string theory

Abstract

Following an old result of Marcus and Schwarz we argue that in the heterotic string theory compactified on a seven dimensional torus, the target space duality group O(7,23;Z) and the strong-weak coupling duality transformations combine into the group O(8,24;Z). We discuss the symmetry of the combined spectrum of elementary particles and solitons in the theory, and also show that the existence of this symmetry predicts the number of harmonic forms on the moduli space of periodic arrays of BPS monopoles in (3+1) dimensions. Finally, we show that the O(8,24;Z) transformations relate the soliton solutions of Dabholkar et al. representing the fundamental string to the soliton solutions of Greene et al. representing "stringy cosmic strings".