The power of M theory

A proposed duality between type IIB superstring theory on R9 × S1 and a conjectured 11D fundamental theory (“M theory”) on R9 × T2 is investigated. Simple heuristic reasoning leads to a consistent picture relating the various p-branes and their tensions in each theory. Identifying the M theory on R10 × S1 with type IIA superstring theory on R10, in a similar fashion, leads to various relations among the p-branes of the IIA theory.