Tree Level Supergravity and the Matrix Model

Abstract

It has recently been shown that the Matrix model and supergravity give the same predictions for three graviton scattering. This contradicts an earlier claim in the literature (hep-th/9710174). We explain the error in this earlier work, and go on to show that certain terms in the $n$-graviton scattering amplitude involving $v^{2n}$ are given correctly by the Matrix model. The Matrix model also generates certain $v^6$ terms in four graviton scattering at three loops, which do not seem to have any counterparts in supergravity. The connection of these results with nonrenormalization theorems is discussed.