IIB/M Duality and Longitudinal Membranes in M(atrix) Theory

TL;DR

This paper explores the duality between M(atrix) theory compactified on a circle and type IIB string theory at strong coupling, revealing BPS states, SL(2,Z) symmetry, and insights into longitudinal membranes.

Contribution

It establishes the IIB/M duality in the M(atrix) theory framework and identifies key symmetries and states, advancing understanding of membrane physics in M-theory.

Findings

Confirmed the equivalence of M(atrix) theory on a circle with strong coupling IIB string theory.

Identified BPS states of IIB strings within the M(atrix) theory spectrum.

Discovered an accidental affine Lie symmetry in the theory.

Abstract

In this paper we study duality properties of the M(atrix) theory compactified on a circle. We establish the equivalence of this theory to the strong coupling limit of type IIB string theory compactified on a circle. In the M(atrix) theory context, our major evidence for this duality consists of identifying the BPS states of IIB strings in the spectrum and finding the remnant symmetry of SL(2,Z) and the associated tau moduli. By this IIB/M duality, a number of insights are gained into the physics of longitudinal membranes in the infinite momentum frame. We also point out an accidental affine Lie symmetry in the theory.