M-Theory (the Theory Formerly Known as Strings)

TL;DR

This paper discusses the emergence of M-theory as a unifying framework that extends superstring theories, describing new non-perturbative objects and dualities, and connecting various string theories through compactifications.

Contribution

It introduces M-theory as a non-perturbative unifying theory that encompasses all five consistent superstring theories and relates different dualities via compactifications.

Findings

M-theory describes supermembranes and superfivebranes.

M-theory subsumes all five consistent string theories.

Various string/string dualities follow from M-theory compactifications.

Abstract

Superunification underwent a major paradigm shift in 1984 when eleven-dimensional supergravity was knocked off its pedestal by ten-dimensional superstrings. This last year has witnessed a new shift of equal proportions: perturbative ten-dimensional superstrings have in their turn been superseded by a new non-perturbative theory called {\it $M$-theory}, which describes supermembranes and superfivebranes, which subsumes all five consistent string theories and whose low energy limit is, ironically, eleven-dimensional supergravity. In particular, six-dimensional string/string duality follows from membrane/fivebrane duality by compactifying $M$-theory on $S^1/Z_2 \times K3$ (heterotic/heterotic duality) or $S^1 \times K3$ (Type $IIA$/heterotic duality) or $S^1/Z_2 \times T^4$ (heterotic/Type $IIA$ duality) or $S^1 \times T^4$ (Type $IIA$/Type $IIA$ duality).