Matrix string interactions

TL;DR

This paper explores how string interactions in compactified Matrix theory are governed by worldsheet Yang-Mills fields, suggesting a non-perturbative framework that explains divergence issues in traditional string perturbation theory.

Contribution

It demonstrates that string interactions in Matrix theory are determined by worldsheet Yang-Mills gauge fields, providing insight into non-perturbative dynamics at finite coupling.

Findings

String interactions are governed by worldsheet Yang-Mills fields.

String perturbation theory diverges, but Matrix theory offers a better-behaved expansion.

The dynamics resemble the strong coupling expansion of 2D Yang-Mills theory.

Abstract

String configurations have been identified in compactified Matrix theory at vanishing string coupling. We show how the interactions of these strings are determined by the Yang-Mills gauge field on the worldsheet. At finite string coupling, this suggests the underlying dynamics is not well-approximated as a theory of strings. This may explain why string perturbation theory diverges badly, while Matrix string perturbation theory presumably has a perturbative expansion with properties similar to the strong coupling expansion of 2d Yang-Mills theory.