A unique theory of all forces

Abstract

In discussing the construction of a consistent theory of quantum gravity unified with the gauge interactions we are naturally led to a string theory. We review its properties and the five consistent supersymmetric string theories in ten dimensions. We finally discuss the evidence that these theories are actually special limits of a unique 11-dimensional theory, called M-theory, and a recent conjecture for its explicit formulation as a supersymmetric Matrix theory.

Comments: 11 pages, Latex. Talk given at the Conference `Beyond the standard model', V, Balholm, Norway, May 1997