A New Proposal for Matrix Theory

Abstract

We explain the motivation and main ideas underlying our proposal for a Lagrangian for Matrix Theory based on sixteen supercharges. Starting with the pedagogical example of a bosonic matrix theory we describe the appearance of a continuum spacetime geometry from a discrete, and noncommutative, spacetime with both Lorentz and Yang-Mills invariances. We explain the appearance of large N ground states with Dbranes and elucidate the principle of matrix Dbrane democracy at finite N. Based on the underlying symmetry algebras that hold at both finite and infinite N, we show why the supersymmetric matrix Lagrangian we propose does not belong to the class of supermatrix models which includes the BFSS and IKKT Matrix Models. We end with a preliminary discussion of a path integral prescription for the Hartle-Hawking wavefunction of the Universe derived from Matrix Theory.