THE NEW PHYSICS OF STRONGLY COUPLED 2D GRAVITY

Abstract

The strong coupling physics of two dimensional gravity at $C=7$, $13$, $19$ is summarized. It is based on a new set of local fields which do not preserve chirality. Thus this quantum number becomes ``deconfined'' in the strongly coupled regime. This new set leads to a novel definition of the area elements, and hence to a modified expression for the string suceptibility, which the real part of the KPZ formula. It allows to define topological (strongly coupled ) Liouville string theories (without transverse degree of freedom) which are completely solvable, and are natural extensions of the standard matrix models.