SUPERSYMMETRY AND MEMBRANE INTERACTIONS IN M(ATRIX) THEORY

We calculate the potential between various configurations of membranes and gravitons in M(atrix) theory. The computed potentials agree with the short distance potentials between corresponding 2-branes and O-bra ne configurations in type IIA string theory, bound to a large number o f O-branes to account for the boost to the infinite momentum frame. We show that, due to the large boost, these type IIA configurations are almost supersymmetric, so that the short and long distance potentials actually agree. Thus the M(atrix) theory is able to reproduce correct long distance behavior in these cases. (C) 1997 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.