Duality in Matrix Theory and Three Dimensional Mirror Symmetry

TL;DR

This paper explores dualities in string and M-theory, focusing on Matrix theory limits, three-dimensional mirror symmetry, and gauge theory descriptions of non-critical strings, revealing new insights into brane correspondences and gauge symmetry enhancements.

Contribution

It introduces a novel analysis of Matrix theory limits and explicitly describes non-critical strings as gauge theory excitations within the duality framework.

Findings

Matrix theory limits relate M-theory on T^5/Z_2 to IIB on K3.

Three-dimensional mirror symmetry maps M-theory five-branes to ALE backgrounds.

Non-critical strings are realized as gauge theory excitations.

Abstract

Certain limits of the duality between M-theory on ${T^5/Z_2}$ and IIB on K3 are analyzed in Matrix theory. The correspondence between M-theory five-branes and ALE backgrounds is realized as three dimensional mirror symmetry. Non-critical strings dual to open membranes are explicitly described as gauge theory excitations. We also comment on Type IIA on K3 and the appearance of gauge symmetry enhancement at special points in the moduli space.