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In four dimensions there are 4 different types of extremal Maxwell/scalar black holes characterized by a scalar coupling parameter $a$ with $a=0,1/\sqrt{3} , 1 , \sqrt{3}$. These black holes can be described as intersections of ten--dimensional non-singular Ramond-Ramond objects, i.e.~$D$-branes, waves and Taub-NUT solitons. Using this description it can be shown that the four--dimensional black holes decompactify near the core to higher--dimensional {\em non-singular} solutions. In terms of these higher--dimensional non-singular solutions we define a non-vanishing entropy for all four black hole types from a four--dimensional point of view., Comment: 10 pages, latex

The (1,0) supersymmetry in six dimensions admits a tensor multiplet which contains a second-rank antisymmetric tensor field with a self-dual field strength and a dilaton. We describe the fully supersymmetric coupling of this multiplet to Yang-Mills multiplet, in the absence of supergravity. The self-duality equation for the tensor field involves a Chern-Simons modified field strength, the gauge fermions, and an arbitrary dimensionful parameter., Comment: 17 pages, latex, no figures

We present a new set of supersymmetric stationary solutions of pure N=4,d=4 supergravity (and, hence, of low-energy effective string theory) that generalize (and include) the Israel-Wilson-Perj\'es solutions of Einstein-Maxwell theory. All solutions have 1/4 of the supersymmetries unbroken and some have 1/2. The full solution is determined by two arbitrary complex harmonic functions {\cal H}_{1,2} which transform as a doublet under SL(2,\R) S duality and N complex constants k^{(n)} that transform as an SO(N) vector. This set of solutions is, then, manifestly duality invariant. When the harmonic functions are chosen to have only one pole, all the general resulting point-like objects have supersymmetric rotating asymptotically Taub-NUT metrics with 1/2 or 1/4 of the supersymmetries unbroken. The static, asymptotically flat metrics describe supersymmetric extreme black holes. Only those breaking 3/4 of the supersymmetries have regular horizons. The stationary asymptotically flat metrics do not describe black holes when the angular momentum does not vanish, even in the case in which 3/4 of the supersymmetries are broken., Comment: A few comments added and alternative formulae for the horizon area with manifest moduli-independence and duality-invariance given. 36 pages

We show how, via $T$-duality, intersecting $D$-Brane configurations in ten (six) dimensions can be obtained from the elementary $D$-Brane configurations by embedding a Type IIB $D$-Brane into a Type IIB Nine-Brane (Five-Brane) and give a classification of such configurations. We show that only a very specific subclass of these configurations can be realized as (supersymmetric) solutions to the equations of motion of IIA/IIB supergravity. Whereas the elementary $D$-brane solutions in $d=10$ are characterized by a single harmonic function, those in $d=6$ contain two independent harmonic functions and may be viewed as the intersection of two $d=10$ elementary $D$-branes. Using string/string/string triality in six dimensions we show that the heterotic version of the elementary $d=6$ $D$-Brane solutions correspond in ten dimensions to intersecting Neveu-Schwarz/Neveu-Schwarz (NS/NS) strings or five-branes and their $T$-duals. We comment on the implications of our results in other than ten and six dimensions., Comment: 18 pages, Latex, (substantial changes in section 2)

We show how the $T$--duality between $D$--branes is realized (i) on $p$--brane solutions $(p=0,\cdots ,9)$ of IIA/IIB supergravity and (ii) on the $D$--brane actions ($p=0,\cdots ,3)$ that act as source terms for the $p$--brane solutions. We point out that the presence of a cosmological constant in the IIA theory leads, by the requirement of gauge invariance, to a topological mass term for the worldvolume gauge field in the 2--brane case., Comment: 14 pages, Latex

We present a version of ten-dimensional IIA supergravity containing a 9-form potential for which the field equations are equivalent to those of the standard, massless, IIA theory for vanishing 10-form field strength, $F_{10}$, and to those of the `massive' IIA theory for non-vanishing $F_{10}$. We present a multi 8-brane solution of these equations that generalizes the 8-brane of Polchinski and Witten. We show that this solution is T-dual to a new multi 7-brane solution of $S^1$ compactified IIB supergravity, and that the latter is T-dual to the IIA 6-brane. When combined with the $Sl(2;\Z)$ U-duality of the type IIB superstring, the T-duality between type II 7-branes and 8-branes implies a quantization of the cosmological constant of type IIA superstring theory. These results are made possible by the construction of a new {\it massive} N=2 D=9 supergravity theory. We also discuss the 11-dimensional interpretation of these type II p-branes., Comment: Includes corrections to last section that will appear in the version to be published in Nuclear Physics B. 36 pp. Phyzzx

We discuss the different discrete duality symmetries in six dimensions that act within and between (i) the 10-dimensional heterotic string compactified on $T^4$, (ii) the 10-dimensional Type IIA string compactified on $K3$ and (iii) the 10-dimensional Type IIB string compactified on $K3$. In particular we show that the underlying group-theoretical structure of these discrete duality symmetries is determined by the proper cubic group ${\cal C}/\Z_2$. Our group theoretical interpretation leads to simple rules for constructing the explicit form of the different discrete Type II duality symmetries in an arbitrary background. The explicit duality rules we obtain are applied to construct dual versions of the 6-dimensional chiral null model., Comment: 31 pages, 6 figures, epsfig.sty, latex

We present a version of ten-dimensional IIA supergravity containing a 9-form potential for which the field equations are equivalent to those of the standard, massless, IIA theory for vanishing 10-form field strength, $F_{10}$, and to those of the `massive' IIA theory for non-vanishing $F_{10}$. We exhibit a multi 8-brane solution of this theory which preserves half the supersymmetry. We propose this solution as the effective field theory realization of the Dirichlet 8-brane of type IIA superstring theory., Comment: Phyzxx. 16 pp

We discuss the duality symmetries of Type II string effective actions in nine, ten and eleven dimensions. As a by-product we give a covariant action underlying the ten--dimensional Type IIB supergravity theory. We apply duality symmetries to construct dyonic Type II string solutions in six dimensions and their reformulation as solutions of the ten--dimensional Type IIB theory in ten dimensions., Comment: 19 pages, Latex, based on talk given at the Trieste conference on S-duality and Mirror Symmetry, June 1995

We show how a solitonic ``magnetically'' charged $p$-brane solution of a given supergravity theory, with the magnetic charge carried by an antisymmetric tensor gauge field, can be generalized to a dyonic solution. We discuss the cases of ten-dimensional and eleven-dimensional supergravity in more detail and a new dyonic five-brane solution in ten dimensions is given. Unlike the purely electrically or magnetically charged five-brane solution the dyonic five-brane contains non-zero Ramond--Ramond fields and is therefore an intrinsically type~II solution. The solution preserves half of the type~II spacetime supersymmetries. It is obtained by applying a solution-generating $SL(2,\R) \times SL(2,\R)$ $S$~duality transformation to the purely magnetically charged five-brane solution. One of the $SL(2,\R)$ duality transformations is basically an extension to the type~II case of the six-dimensional $\Z_2$ string/string duality. We also present an action underlying the type IIB supergravity theory., Comment: 18 pages, latex file. Minor changes in text

We study exhaustively the solution-generating transformations (dualities) that occur in the context of the low-energy effective action of superstring theory. We first consider target-space duality (``T duality'') transformations in absence of vector fields. We find that for one isometry the full duality group is (SO^{\uparrow}(1,1))^{3} x D_{4}, the discrete part (D_{4}) being non-Abelian. We, then, include non-Abelian Yang--Mills fields and find the corresponding generalization of the T duality transformations. We study the \alpha^{\prime} corrections to these transformations and show that the T duality rules considerably simplify if the gauge group is embedded in the holonomy group. Next, in the case in which there are Abelian vector fields, we consider the duality group that includes the transformation introduced by Sen that rotates among themselves components of the metric, axion and vector field. Finally we list the duality symmetries of the Type II theories with one isometry., Comment: latex file, 42 pages (less if you use optional commands) No changes at all. Resubmited due to mailer problems

We present a geometric formulation of super $p$--brane theories in which the Wess--Zumino term is $(p+1)$--th order in the supersymmetric currents, and hence is manifestly supersymmetric. The currents are constructed using a supergroup manifold corresponding to a generalization of a superalgebra which we found sometime ago. Our results generalize Siegel's analogous reformulation of the Green--Schwarz superstring. The new superalgebras we construct underly the free differential superalgebras introduced by de Azc\'arraga and Townsend a few years ago., Comment: 14 pages, plain tex

We derive the T-duality transformations that transform a general d=10 solution of the type-IIA string with one isometry to a solution of the type-IIB string with one isometry and vice versa. In contrast to other superstring theories, the T-duality transformations are not related to a non-compact symmetry of a d=9 supergravity theory. We also discuss S-duality in d=9 and d=10 and the relationship with eleven-dimensional supergravity theory. We apply these dualities to generate new solutions of the type IIA and type IIB superstrings and of eleven-dimensional supergravity., Comment: Latex file. Several missprints in equations, some important and not yet corrected in the published version, have now been corrected. No changes in main results and conclusions. 43+1 pages, LaTeX file

We construct new realizations of the Virasoro algebra inspired by the Calogero model. The Virasoro algebra we find acts as a kind of spectrum-generating algebra of the Calogero model. We furthermore present the superextension of these results and introduce a class of higher-spin extensions of the Virasoro algebra which are of the $W_\infty$ - type., Comment: 22 pages, Latex

We study the interplay between T-duality, compactification and supersymmetry. We prove that when the original configuration has unbroken space-time supersymmetries, the dual configuration also does if a special condition is met: the Killing spinors of the original configuration have to be independent on the coordinate which corresponds to the isometry direction of the bosonic fields used for duality. Examples of ``losers" (T-duals are not supersymmetric) and ``winners" (T-duals are supersymmetric) are given., Comment: LaTeX file, 19 pages, U. of Groningen Report UG-8/94, Stanford U. Report SU-ITP-94-19, QMW College Report QMW-PH-94-13

We discuss a realization of the bosonic string as a noncritical $W_3$-string. The relevant noncritical $W_3$-string is characterized by a Liouville sector which is restricted to a (non-unitary) $(3,2)$ $W_3$ minimal model with central charge contribution $c_l = - 2$. Furthermore, the matter sector of this $W_3$-string contains $26$ free scalars which realize a critical bosonic string. The BRST operator for this $W_3$-string can be written as the sum of two, mutually anticommuting, nilpotent BRST operators: $Q = Q_0 + Q_1$ in such a way that the scalars which realize the bosonic string appear only in $Q_0$ while the central charge contribution of the fields present in $Q_1$ equals zero. We argue that, in the simplest case that the Liouville sector is given by the identity operator only, the $Q_1$-cohomology is given by a particular (non-unitary) $(3,2)$ Virasoro minimal model at $c=0$., Comment: 12 pages, UG-7/94

Extreme 4-dimensional dilaton black holes embedded into 10-dimensional geometry are shown to be dual to the gravitational waves in string theory. The corresponding gravitational waves are the generalization of pp-fronted waves, called supersymmetric string waves. They are given by Brinkmann metric and the two-form field, without a dilaton. The non-diagonal part of the metric of the dual partner of the wave together with the two-form field correspond to the vector field in 4-dimensional geometry of the charged extreme black holes., Comment: 12 pages, LaTeX, preprint UG-3/94, SU-ITP-94-11, QMW-PH-94-15

We formulate sigma-model duality transformations in terms of spin connection. This allows to investigate the symmetry of the string action including higher order $\alpha'$ corrections. An important feature of the new duality transformations is a simple homogeneous transformation rule of the spin connection (with torsion) and specifically adjusted transformation of the Yang-Mills field. We have found that under certain conditions this duality is a symmetry of the full effective string action in the target space, free of $\alpha'$ corrections. We demonstrate how the exact duality generates new fundamental string solutions from supersymmetric string waves., Comment: 23 p, Stanford University preprint SU-ITP-93-37 (some references added)

We investigate the cohomology structure of a general noncritical $W_N$-string. We do this by introducing a new basis in the Hilbert space in which the BRST operator splits into a ``nested'' sum of nilpotent BRST operators. We give explicit details for the case $N=3$. In that case the BRST operator $Q$ can be written as the sum of two, mutually anticommuting, nilpotent BRST operators: $Q=Q_0+Q_1$. We argue that if one chooses for the Liouville sector a $(p,q)$ $W_3$ minimal model then the cohomology of the $Q_1$ operator is closely related to a $(p,q)$ Virasoro minimal model. In particular, the special case of a (4,3) unitary $W_3$ minimal model with central charge $c=0$ leads to a $c=1/2$ Ising model in the $Q_1$ cohomology. Despite all this, noncritical $W_3$ strings are not identical to noncritical Virasoro strings., Comment: 38 pages, UG-7/93, ITP-SB-93-79

Closed super (p+2)-forms in target superspace are relevant for the construction of the usual super p-brane actions. Here we construct closed super (p+1)-forms on a {\it worldvolume superspace}. They are built out of the pull-backs of the Kalb-Ramond super (p+1)-form and its curvature. We propose a twistor-like formulation of a class of super p-branes which crucially depends on the existence of these closed super (p+1)-forms., Comment: 20 pages, plain tex, CTP TAMU-67/93, UG-5/93

We perform a classical BRST analysis of the symmetries corresponding to a generic $w_N$-algebra. An essential feature of our method is that we write the $w_N$-algebra in a special basis such that the algebra manifestly has a ``nested'' set of subalgebras $v_N^N \subset v_N^{N-1} \subset \dots \subset v_N^2 \equiv w_N$ where the subalgebra $v_N^i\ (i=2, \dots ,N)$ consists of generators of spin $s=\{i,i+1,\dots ,N\}$, respectively. In the new basis the BRST charge can be written as a ``nested'' sum of $N-1$ nilpotent BRST charges. In view of potential applications to (critical and/or non-critical) $W$-string theories we discuss the quantum extension of our results. In particular, we present the quantum BRST-operator for the $W_4$-algebra in the new basis. For both critical and non-critical $W$-strings we apply our results to discuss the relation with minimal models., Comment: 32 pages, UG-4/93

We discuss the conditions under which the BRST operator of a $W$-string can be written as the sum of two operators that are separately nilpotent and anticommute with each other. We illustrate our results with the example of the non-critical $W_3$-string. Furthermore, we apply our results to make a conjecture about a relationship between the spectrum of a non-critical $W_n$-string and a $W_{n-1}$-string., Comment: 12 pages, UG-2/93, UCB-PTH-93/05, LBL-33737 (equations (30) and (31) have been corrected)

We present plane-wave-type solutions of the lowest order superstring effective action which have unbroken space-time supersymmetries. They describe dilaton, axion and gauge fields in a stringy generalization of the Brinkmann metric. Some conspiracy between the metric and the axion field is required. We show that there exists a special class of these solutions, for which $\alpha^\prime$ stringy corrections to the effective on-shell action, to the equations of motion (and therefore to the solutions themselves), and to the supersymmetry transformations vanish. We call these solutions supersymmetric string waves (SSW)., Comment: 19 pages, LaTeX, SU-ITP-92-30 and UG-10/92

We consider, for $p$ odd, a $p$--brane coupled to a $(p+1)$th rank background antisymmetric tensor field and to background Yang-Mills (YM) fields {\it via} a Wess-Zumino term. We obtain the generators of antisymmetric tensor and Yang-Mills gauge transformations acting on $p$--brane wavefunctionals (functions on `$p$-loop space'). The Yang-Mills generators do not form a closed algebra by themselves; instead, the algebra of Yang-Mills and antisymmetric tensor generators is a $U(1)$ extension of the usual algebra of Yang-Mills gauge transformations. We construct the $p$-brane's Hamiltonian and thereby find gauge-covariant functional derivatives acting on $p$--brane wavefunctionals that commute with the YM and $U(1)$ generators., Comment: 13 pages, UG-5/92; CTP-TAMU-63/92; DAMTP/R-92/32; Imperial/TP/91-92/30; SISSA 157/92/EP

We perform a systematic investigation of free-scalar realisations of the Za\-mo\-lod\-chi\-kov $W_3$ algebra in which the operator product of two spin-three generators contains a non-zero operator of spin four which has vanishing norm. This generalises earlier work where such an operator was required to be absent. By allowing this spin-four null operator we obtain several realisations of the $W_3$ algebra both in terms of two scalars as well as in terms of an arbitrary number $n$ of free scalars. Our analysis is complete for the case of two-scalar realisations., Comment: 14 pages, LATEX, UG-6/92

We derive the recently proposed BRST charge for non-critical W strings from a Lagragian approach. The basic observation is that, despite appearances, the combination of two classical ``matter'' and ``Toda'' w_3 systems leads to a closed modified gauge algebra, which is of the so-called soft type. Based on these observations, a novel way to construct critical W_3 strings is given., Comment: TEX file, pp14, UG-8/92, CERN-TH.6647/92,LBL-32806

Starting from the new minimal multiplet of supergravity in $2+2$ dimensions, we construct two types of self-dual supergravity theories. One of them involves a self-duality condition on the Riemann curvature and implies the equations of motion following from the Hilbert-Einstein type supergravity action. The other one involves a self-duality condition on a {\it torsionful} Riemann curvature with the torsion given by the field-strength of an antisymmetric tensor field, and implies the equations of motion that follow from an $R^2$-type action., Comment: 11 pages (TEX), UG-4/92 and CTP TAMU-46/92

We generalize to p-dimensional extended objects and type II superstrings a recently proposed Green-Schwarz type I superstring action in which the tension $T$ emerges as an integration constant of the equations of motion. The action is spacetime scale-invariant but its equations of motion are equivalent to those of the standard super p-brane for $T\ne 0$ and the null super p-brane for $T=0$. We also show that for $p=1$ the action can be written in ``Born-Infeld'' form., Comment: 14 pages (LATEX), UG-3/92

We quantise the classical gauge theory of $N=2\ w_\infty$-supergravity and show how the underlying $N=2$ super-$w_\infty$ algebra gets deformed into an $N=2$ super-$W_\infty$ algebra. Both algebras contain the $N=2$ super-Virasoro algebra as a subalgebra. We discuss how one can extract from these results information about quantum $N=2\ W_N$-supergravity theories containing a finite number of higher-spin symmetries with superspin $s\le N$. As an example we discuss the case of quantum $N=2\ W_3$-supergravity., Comment: 44 pages