In physics, matrix string theory is a set of equations that describe superstring theory in a non-perturbative framework. Type IIA string theory can be shown to be equivalent to a maximally supersymmetric two-dimensional gauge theory, the gauge group of which is U(N) for a large value of N. This matrix string theory was first proposed by Luboš Motl in 1997^[1] and later independently in a more complete paper by Robbert Dijkgraaf, Erik Verlinde, and Herman Verlinde.^[2] Another matrix string theory equivalent to Type IIB string theory was constructed in 1996 by Ishibashi, Kawai, Kitazawa and Tsuchiya.^[3]