# A question about T duality

Normally T-duality is introduced perturbatively by computing world-sheet spectrum of fundamental strings, and one of the conclusions is that it switches between momentum mode and winding mode of fundamental strings. My question is that does this switching extend beyond fundamental strings, namely, is it true that T-duality simply turns any momentum modes (for example, those carried by D-strings) into winding fundamental strings? If yes, is there a convenient way to see why is this the case?

This still leaves the question whether T-duality is valid nonperturbatively. In all the known simple enough supersymmetric string vacua where it is provable in perturbation theory, it also holds nonperturbatively. We can't rigorously prove this statement in the universal situation because we're lacking the universal nonperturbative definition of string theory. However, we may prove it for many vacua by various tools – argue it is true for vacua with the maximal supersymmetry which produce SUGRA with exceptional noncompact (in M-theory: discrete U-duality) symmetries (T-duality is a subgroup); we may prove it for IIA and $E_8\times E_8$ heterotic string theory using BFSS Matrix theory, and so on.
• Dear @WrestlingPanda - the winding number is the "electric charge" carried by wound strings so it may also be calculated as the integral of the H field strength over some manifold. You must be careful what the manifold is - it is really the integral of the dual 7-form H* over $S^1\times S^6$ where the 6-sphere surrounds the string in the transverse 7 dimensions and the extra 1 periodic dimension is the $S^1$. Strings are so light that the actual strings that are wrapped are the lightest objects that carry this charge at a low string coupling. – Luboš Motl Dec 17 '13 at 8:28