M-theory K3 duality ($\text{M on K3}⟷\text{heterotic on }{T}^3$)

M-theory on a K3 surface and the heterotic string on a three-torus have matching seven-dimensional moduli and charge lattices. The K3 intersection lattice supplies twenty-two vector charges; an M5-brane wrapped on K3 becomes the heterotic fundamental string. The strong-coupling interpretation and low-energy matching are derived in section 4.7 of String Theory Dynamics in Various Dimensions.

When appropriate negative-square two-cycles of a K3 surface collapse, wrapped M2-branes become massless. Their intersection pattern is an ADE root diagram, and the massless charged states enlarge the abelian gauge algebra to the corresponding simply laced Lie algebra.

// Target: supersymmetry.bigb

A wrapped M5-brane fixes the heterotic string tension proportional to $V/{\ell }_p^6$. Reduction of the gravitational coupling gives $G_7\propto {\ell }_p^9/V$. Therefore $G_7/{\ell }_{s,H}^5\propto (V/{\ell }_p^4{)}^{3/2}$, yielding the displayed dimensionless coupling relation. This derivation separates the K3 volume modulus from its shape Narain moduli space.