Symmetries of heterotic string theory

Abstract

We study the symmetries of the two-dimensional Heterotic string theory by following the approach of Kinnersley et al. for the study of stationary axially-symmetric Einstein-Maxwell equations. We identify the finite-dimensional symmetries which are the analogues of the groups G′ and H′ for the Einstein-Maxwell equations. We also give the constructions for the infinite number of conserved currents and the affine o ̂ (8,24) symmetry algebra in this formulation. The generalized Ehlers and Harrison transformations are identified and a parallel between the infinite-dimensional symmetry algebra for the heterotic string case with s ̂ l(3, R) that arise in the case of Einstein-Maxwell equations is pointed out.