M-theory and N=2 Strings

Abstract

N=2 heterotic strings may provide a window into the physics of M-theory radically different than that found via the other supersymmetric string theories. In addition to their supersymmetric structure, these strings carry a four-dimensional self-dual structure, and appear to be completely integrable systems with a stringy density of states. These lectures give an overview of N=2 heterotic strings, as well as a brief discussion of possible applications of both ordinary and heterotic N=2 strings to D-branes and matrix theory.