-- 112 --

Tables 10.1 and 10.2 are incomplete for two reasons. First, as mentioned, we have listed only a few of the infinite possibilities for
winding/vibration numbers that a string can assume. This, of course, poses no problem—we could make the tables as long as our
patience allows and would find that the relation between them will continue to hold. Second, beyond winding energy, we have so
far considered only energy contributions arising from the uniform-vibrational motion of a string. We should now include the
ordinary vibrations as well, since these give additional contributions to the string's total energy and also determine the force
charges it carries. The important point, however, is that investigations have revealed that these contributions do not depend on the
size of the radius. Thus, even if we were to include these more detailed features of string attributes in Tables 10.1 and 10.2, the
tables would still correspond exactly, since the ordinary
vibrational contributions affect each table identically. We Vibration number Winding number Total energy
therefore conclude that the masses and the charges of particles in a
Garden-hose universe with radius R are completely identical to 1 1 10 + 1/10 = 10.1
those in a Garden-hose universe with radius 1/R. And since these
masses and force charges govern fundamental physics, there is no 1 2 10 + 2/10 = 10.2
way to distinguish physically these two geometrically distinct
1 3 10 + 3/10 = 10.3
universes. Any experiment done in one such universe has a
corresponding experiment that can be done in the other, leading to 1 4 10 + 4/10 = 10.4
exactly the same results.
2 1 20 + 1/10 = 20.1
A Debate 2 2 20 + 2/10 = 20.2

George and Gracie, after being flattened out into two-dimensional 2 3 20 + 3/10 = 20.3
beings, take up residence as physics professors in the Garden-hose
2 4 20 + 4/10 = 20.4
universe. After setting up their competing laboratories, each
claims to have determined the size of the circular dimension. 3 1 30 + 1/10 = 30.1
Surprisingly, although each has a reputation for carrying out
research with great precision, their conclusions do not agree. 3 2 30 + 2/10 = 30.2
George claims that the circular radius is R = 10 times the Planck
3 3 30 + 3/10 = 30.3
length, while Gracie claims that the circular radius is R = 1/10
times the Planck length. 3 4 30 + 4/10 = 30.4

"Gracie," says George, "based on my string theory calculations, I 4 1 40 + 1/10 = 40.1

know that if the circular dimension has radius 10, then I should 4 2 40 + 2/10 = 40.2
expect to see strings whose energies are listed in Table 10.1. I
have done extensive experiments using the new Planck energy 4 3 40 + 3/10 = 40.3
accelerator and they have revealed that this prediction is precisely
confirmed. Therefore, with confidence, I claim that the circular 4 4 40 + 4/10 = 40.4
dimension has radius R = 10." Gracie, in defense of her claims,
makes exactly the same remarks except for her conclusion that the Table 10.2 As in Table 10.1, except that the radius is now
list of energies in Table 10.2 is found, confirming that the radius taken to be 1/10.
is R = 1/10.

In a flash of insight, Gracie shows George that the two tables, although arranged differently, are actually identical. Now George,
who, as is well known, reasons a bit more slowly than Gracie, replies, "How can this be? I know that different values for the radius
give rise, through basic quantum mechanics and the properties of wound strings, to different possible values for string energies and
string charges. If we agree on the latter, then we must agree on the radius."

Gracie, using her newfound insight into string physics replies, "What you say is almost, but not quite, correct. It is usually true that
two different values for the radius give rise to different allowed energies. However, in the special circumstance when the two
values for the radius are inversely related to one another—like 10 and 1/10—then the allowed energies and charges are actually
identical. You see, what you would call a winding mode 1 would call a vibration mode, and what you would call a vibration mode
1 would call a winding mode. But nature does not care about the language we use. Instead, physics is governed by the properties of
the fundamental ingredients—the particle masses (energies) and the force charges they carry. And whether the radius is R or 1/R,
the complete list of these properties for the fundamental ingredients in string theory is identical."

energy formula in terms of √α'—so-called string scale—whose value is about the Planck length, 10-13 centimeter. We can then express string energies as v/R + wR/α', which is invariant
under interchange of v and w as well as R and α'/R, where the latter two are now expressed in terms of conventional units of distance.