Noncritical osp (1|2, R) M-theory matrix model with an arbitrary time-dependent cosmological constant

Dimensional reduction of the D = 2 minimal super-Yang-Mills to the D = 1 matrix quantum mechanics is shown to double the number of dynamical supersymmetries, from N = 1 to N = 2. We analyze the most general supersymmetric deformations of the latter, in order to construct the noncritical 3D M-theory matrix model on generic supersymmetric backgrounds. It amounts to adding quadratic and linear potentials with arbitrary time-dependent coefficients, namely, a cosmological 'constant', Lambda(t), and an electric flux background, rho(t), respectively. The resulting matrix model enjoys, irrespective of Lambda(t) and rho(t), two dynamical supersymmetries which further reveal three hidden so(1, 2) symmetries. All together they form the supersymmetry algebra, osp(1 vertical bar 2, R). Each so(1, 2) multiplet in the Hilbert space visualizes a dynamics constrained on either Euclidean or Minkowskian dS(2)/AdS(2) space, depending on its Casimir. In particular, all the unitary multiplets have the Euclidean dS(2)/AdS(2) geometry. We conjecture that the matrix model provides holographic duals to the 2D superstring theories on various backgrounds having the spacetime signature Minkowskian if Lambda(t) > 0, or Euclidean if Lambda(t) < 0. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.