Notes on Matrix and Micro Strings

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent advances in M-theory compactifications using Matrix theory, emphasizing the role of IIA strings, the five-brane, and the micro-string theory in understanding dualities and spectra.

Contribution

It highlights the unifying role of the M-theory five-brane and the micro-string theory in describing compactification spectra and dualities.

Findings

Identification of IIA strings within Matrix theory

Role of five-brane in unifying dualities

Central importance of micro-string theory on five-branes

Abstract

We review some recent developments in the study of M-theory compactifications via Matrix theory. In particular we highlight the appearance of IIA strings and their interactions, and explain the unifying role of the M-theory five-brane for describing the spectrum of the T^5 compactification and its duality symmetries. The 5+1-dimensional micro-string theory that lives on the fivebrane world-volume takes a central place in this presentation.