- Chan-Paton factor
In
theoretical physics , the Chan-Paton factor is a multivalued index associated with the endpoints of anopen string . An open string can be interpreted as a fluxtube connecting aquark and itsantiparticle . The two Chan-Paton factors make the string transform as atensor under agauge group whose charges are carried by the endpoints of the strings.After the
Second Superstring Revolution in1995 , Chan-Paton factors are interpreted as labels that identify which (spacetime -filling)D-branes the stringy endpoints are attached to. The Chan-Paton factors have become a special case of a more general concept.
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