\(\mathrm{SL}(2, \mathbb{Z})\)-invariance and D-instanton contributions to the \(D^6 R^4\) interaction (Q493896)

Duality invariance of type IIB superstring theory implies that the coefficients of the BPS-interaction terms in the low-energy effective action depend only on the moduli parameterizing the coset space \(\mathrm{SL}(2)/\mathrm{SO}(2)\). The first and the third author [``Duality and higher derivative terms in M theory'', J. High Energy Phys. 2006, No. 1, Article ID 093, 37 p. (2006; \url{doi:10.1088/1126-6708/2006/01/093})] conjectured that the coefficient of the \(D^6R^4\) interaction is the solution of an inhomogeneous Laplace eigenvalue equation on this complex 1-dimensional moduli space (the modulus being the complex string coupling constant). The paper reviewed here expands on this conjecture and determines the exact \(\mathrm{SL}(2,\mathbb Z)\)-invariant solution \(f(x+iy)\) to this differential equation that satisfies a moderate growth condition in the weak coupling limit \(y\rightarrow\infty\). The solution is presented as a Fourier series with modes \(\hat f_n(y)e^{2\pi inx}\). Invariance under \(\mathrm{SL}(2,\mathbb Z)\) requires these modes to satisfy the nontrivial boundary condition \(\hat f_n(y)=O(y^{-2})\) for small \(n\), which uniquely determines the solution. The physical interpretation of this solution includes D-instanton effects. Several alternative procedures for determining the solution are presented in three appendices.