Adam Tropper - New Symmetries in Old Matrix Models

This talk was part of the Workshop on "Large-N Matrix Models and Emergent Geometry" held at the ESI September 4 — 8, 2023.

The BFSS matrix model relates flat space M-theory to a large N limit of matrix quantum mechanics describing N non-relativistic D0-branes. As is the case for any duality, one expects the various symmetries of M-theory to be present in BFSS; however, even a basic understanding of how Lorentz symmetry emerges as N → infinity has remained elusive. In this talk, I will discuss a so-called "soft D0-brane theorem" which concerns non-relativistic D0-brane scattering amplitudes where a small number (Ns smaller smaller N) of D0-branes get dislodged from a bound state. This soft theorem can be leveraged to show that all D0-brane scattering amplitudes, indeed, enjoy the full asymptotic symmetry group of M-theory (which contains the Lorentz group as a subgroup) up to 1/N corrections. These calculations give a totally new set of non-perturbative evidence in support of the BFSS duality as a model of flat-space holography. Based on: 2208.14547 and 2303.14200.