String Dualities from Matrix Theory

TL;DR

This paper proposes a Matrix model framework for understanding dualities between M-theory, Heterotic string, and F-theory through compactification on specific manifolds, revealing new insights into their interconnected nature.

Contribution

It introduces a novel Matrix model description for M-theory on K3 and the Heterotic string on T^3, highlighting dualities via geometric limits.

Findings

Matrix model describes M-theory on K3 and Heterotic string on T^3.

Different geometric limits reveal M-theory/Heterotic duality.

Partial results on Heterotic/F-theory duality.

Abstract

We suggest that the (2,0) six dimensional field theory compactified on $S^1\times K3$ is the Matrix model description of both M-theory on $K3$ and the Heterotic string on $T^3$. This proposal is different from existing proposals for the Heterotic theory. Different limits of the base space geometry give the different space-time interpretations, making M-theory/Heterotic duality manifest. We also present partial results on Heterotic/F-theory duality.