Quantum State Density and Critical Temperature in M-theory

Abstract

We discuss the asymptotic properties of quantum states density for fundamental $p-$branes which can yield a microscopic interpretation of the thermodynamic quantities in M-theory. The matching of BPS part of spectrum for superstring and supermembrane gives the possibility of getting membrane's results via string calculations. In the weak coupling limit of M-theory the critical behavior coincides with the first order phase transition in standard string theory at temperature less than the Hagedorn's temperature $T_H$. The critical temperature at large coupling constant is computed by considering M-theory on manifold with topology ${\mathbb{R}}^9\otimes {mathbbT}^2$. Alternatively we argue that any finite temperature can be introduced in the framework of membrane thermodynamics.

16 pages, published in Mod. Phys. Lett. A16(2001)2249