Conformal non-geometric gravity in six dimensions and M-theory above the Planck energy (Q2762005)

The proposal that a strong-coupling limit of the five-dimensional type II string theory (M-theory compactified on a 6-torus) in which the Planck length becomes infinite could give a six-dimensional superconformal phase of M-theory is reviewed. This limit exists for the free theory, giving a six-dimensional theory with \((4,0)\) supersymmetry compactified on a circle whose radius gives the five-dimensional Planck length. The free six-dimensional theory has a fourth rank tensor gauge field with the symmetries of the Riemann tensor instead of a symmetric tensor gauge field, but its dimensional reduction gives conventional linearized gravity in five dimensions. The possibility of an interacting form of this theory existing and the consequences it would have for the geometric picture of gravity are discussed.