Editing M-theory (section)

===BFSS matrix model===

{{main article|Matrix theory (physics)}}

In mathematics, a [[matrix (mathematics)|matrix]] is a rectangular array of numbers or other data. In physics, a [[matrix theory (physics)|matrix model]] is a particular kind of physical theory whose mathematical formulation involves the notion of a matrix in an important way. A matrix model describes the behavior of a set of matrices within the framework of quantum mechanics.<ref name="Banks et al. 1997">Banks et al. 1997</ref><ref name="Connes, Douglas, and Schwarz 1998">Connes, Douglas, and Schwarz 1998</ref>

One important{{why|date=December 2016}} example of a matrix model is the [[BFSS matrix model]] proposed by [[Tom Banks (physicist)|Tom Banks]], [[Willy Fischler]], [[Stephen Shenker]], and [[Leonard Susskind]] in 1997. This theory describes the behavior of a set of nine large matrices. In their original paper, these authors showed, among other things, that the low energy limit of this matrix model is described by eleven-dimensional supergravity. These calculations led them to propose that the BFSS matrix model is exactly equivalent to M-theory. The BFSS matrix model can therefore be used as a prototype for a correct formulation of M-theory and a tool for investigating the properties of M-theory in a relatively simple setting.<ref name="Banks et al. 1997"/>{{clarify|sufficiency is established, but necessity is unclear for the reader--should be explicitly mentioned|date=December 2016}}