M(atrix) Theory : a Pedagogical Introduction

Abstract

I attempt to give a pedagogical introduction to the matrix model of M-theory as developed by Banks, Fischler, Shenker and Susskind (BFSS). In the first lecture, I introduce and review the relevant aspects of D-branes with the emergence of the matrix model action. The second lecture deals with the appearance of eleven-dimensional supergravity and M-theory in strongly coupled type IIA superstring theory. The third lecture combines the material of the two previous ones to arrive at the BFSS conjecture and explains the evidence presented by these authors. The emphasis is not on most recent developments but on a hopefully pedagogical presentation.

20 pages in double-column format, Latex, uses espcrc2.tex, 2 figures

Cited by in corpus (15)

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• Alternative N=2 Supergravity in Five Dimensions with Singularities
• Supergravity Theories in $D\ge 12$ Coupled to Super p-Branes
• A Note on Embedding of M-Theory Corrections into Eleven-Dimensional Superspace
• Emergence of $R^4$-terms in M-theory
• BFT embedding of noncommutative D-brane system
• Topologican Gauging of N=16 Supergravity in Three-Dimensions
• Non-Linear Realization of ${\aleph }_0$-Extended Supersymmetry
• Teleparallel Superspace in Eleven Dimensions Coupled to Supermembranes
• Supersymmetric E_{8(+8)} / SO(16) Sigma-Model Coupled to N=1 Supergravity in Three-Dimensions
• Fully Off-shell Effective Action and its Supersymmetry in Matrix Theory II
• A correspondence between the free and interacting field theories
• Supersymmetric Yang-Mills Theory in Eleven Dimensions
• Type IIB Matrix Theory at Two Loops
• Generalized BF Theory in Superspace as Underlying Theory of 11D Supergravity