2004/09/29 by Shyamoli Chaudhuri, Chaudhuri, Shyamoli
Physics and Astronomy · #Black Holes and Theoretical Physics #Cosmology and Gravitation Theories #FOS: Physical sciences #High Energy Physics - Theory (hep-th) #Theoretical and Computational Physics #hep-th
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.hep-th/0409301
38pgs. Note Added (Sep 2005)
openalex publication_date 2004/09/29 · arxiv created 2005/09/06 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
We give a first principles formulation of the equilibrium statistical mechanics of strings in the canonical ensemble, compatible with the Euclidean timelike T-duality transformations that link the six supersymmetric string theories in pairs. We demonstrate that each exhibits a T2 growth in the free energy at high temperatures far above the string scale. We verify that the low energy field theory limit of our expression for the string free energy reproduces the expected T10 growth when the contribution from massive string modes is suppressed. In every case, heterotic, type I, and type II, we can definitively rule out the occurrence of an exponential divergence in the one-loop string free energy above some critical temperature. Finally, we identify a macroscopic loop amplitude in the type I string theories which yields the expectation value of a single Wilson-Polyakov-Susskind loop in the low energy finite temperature supersymmetric gauge theory limit, an order parameter for a thermal phase transition at a string scale temperature. We point out that precise computations can nevertheless be carried out on either side of the phase boundary by using the low energy finite temperature supersymmetric gauge theory limits of the pair of thermal dual string theories, type IB and type I'. Note Added (Sep 2005).