Noncommutative Geometry and D-Branes

We apply noncommutative geometry to a system of N parallel D-branes, which is interpreted as a quantum space. The Dirac operator defining the quantum differential calculus is identified to be the supercharge for strings connecting D-branes. As a result of the calculus, Connes' Yang-Mills action functional on the quantum space reproduces the dimensionally reduced U(N) super Yang-Mills action as the low energy effective action for D-brane dynamics. Several features that may look ad hoc in a noncommutative geometric construction are shown to have very natural physical or geometric origin in the D-brane picture in superstring theory.Comment: 16 pages, Latex, typos corrected and minor modification mad

Noncommutative Gauge Theories in Matrix Theory

We present a general framework for Matrix theory compactified on a quotient space R^n/G, with G a discrete group of Euclidean motions in R^n. The general solution to the quotient conditions gives a gauge theory on a noncommutative space. We characterize the resulting noncommutative gauge theory in terms of the twisted group algebra of G associated with a projective regular representation. Also we show how to extend our treatments to incorporate orientifolds.Comment: 11 pages, Latex, discussions on orientifolds adde

Brane Creation in M(atrix) Theory

We discuss, in the context of M(atrix) theory, the creation of a membrane suspendend between two longitudinal five-branes when they cross each other. It is shown that the membrane creation is closely related to the degrees of freedom in the off-diagonal blocks which are related via dualities to the chiral fermionic zero mode on a 0-8 string. In the dual system of a D0-brane and a D8-brane in type \IIA theory the half-integral charges associated with the ``half''-strings are found to be connected to the well-known fermion-number fractionalization in the presence of a fermionic zero mode. At sufficiently short distances, the effective potential between the two five-branes is dominated by the zero mode contribution to the vacuum energy.Comment: 14 pages, Latex. A new paragraph on p.10 and acknowledgement added. v3: The version for publication: minor revisions and typos correcte

Brane creation in M(atrix) theory

ManuscriptWe discuss, in the context of M(atrix) theory, the creation of a membrane suspended between two longitudinal five-branes when they cross each other. It is shown that the membrane creation is closely related to the degrees of freedom in the off-diagonal blocks which are related via dualities to the chiral fermionic zero mode on a 0-8 string. In the dual system of a D0-brane and a D8-brane in type IIA theory the half-integral charges associated with the "half"-strings are found to be connected to the well-known fermion-number fractionalization in the presence of a fermionic zero mode. At sufficiently short distances, the effective potential between the two five-branes is dominated by the zero mode contribution to the vacuum energy

Towards a noncommutative geometric approach to matrix compactification

Journal ArticleIn this paper we study generic M(atrix) theory compactifications that are specified by a set of quotient conditions. A procedure is proposed which both associates an algebra to each compactification and leads deductively to general solutions for the matrix variables. The notion of noncommutative geometry on the dual space is central to this construction. As examples we apply this procedure to various orbifolds and orientifolds, including ALE spaces and quotients of tori. While the old solutions are derived in a uniform way, new solutions are obtained in several cases. Our study also leads to a new formulation of gauge theory on quantum spaces

Type-IIB-string-M-theory duality and longitudinal membranes in M(atrix) theory

Journal ArticleIn this paper we study duality properties of the M(atrix) theory compactified on a circle. We present evidence for the equivalence of this theory to the strong coupling limit of type-IIB string theory compactified on a circle. In the M(atrix) theory context, our evidence for this duality consists of showing the appearance (upon compactification) of a topological term recently discovered in the D-string action, identifying the BPS states of type-IIB strings in the spectrum and finding the remnant symmetry of SL(2,Z) and the associated t moduli. By this type-IIB-string-M-theory duality, a number of insights are gained into the physics of longitudinal membranes in the infinite momentum frame

P-p′ strings in M(atrix) theory

ManuscriptWe study the off-diagonal blocks in the M(atrix) model that are supposed to correspond to open strings stretched between a Dp-brane and a Dp′-brane. It is shown that the spectrum, including the quantum numbers, of the zero modes in the off-diagonal blocks can be determined from the index theorem and unbroken supersymmetry, and indeed reproduces string theory predictions for p-p′ strings. Previously the matrix description of a longitudinal fivebrane needed to introduce extra degrees of freedom corresponding to 0-4 strings by hand. We show that they are naturally associated with the off-diagonal zero modes, and the supersymmetry transformation laws and low energy effective action postulated for them are now derivable from the M(atrix) theory