Finite Temperature Matrix Theory

TL;DR

This paper develops methods to compute the canonical partition function of Matrix Theory at finite temperature, revealing connections to eleven-dimensional supergravity, string interactions, and black hole physics.

Contribution

It introduces a computation framework for the Lorentz invariant partition function of Matrix Theory, including high temperature expansions and links to supergravity and black hole phenomena.

Findings

Partition function computed explicitly for Matrix Theory.

High temperature expansion captures interaction effects.

Connections established between Matrix Theory, supergravity, and black hole physics.

Abstract

We present the way the Lorentz invariant canonical partition function for Matrix Theory as a light-cone formulation of M-theory can be computed. We explicitly show how when the eleventh dimension is decompactified, the N = 1 eleven dimensional SUGRA partition function appears. We also provide a high temperature expansion which captures some structure of the canonical partition function when interactions amongst D-particles are on. The connection with the semi-classical computations thermalizing the open superstrings attached to a D-particle is also clarified through a Born-Oppenheimer approximation. Some ideas about how Matrix Theory would describe the complementary degrees of freedom of the massless content of eleven dimensional SUGRA are discussed. Comments about possible connections to black hole physics are also made.