I just finished learning M(atrix) theory and the basics of the compactification of extra dimensions.
The extra 6 dimensions of superstring theory can be compactified on 3 Calabi-Yau manifolds (because 6 real dimensions means 3 complex dimensions).
However, when it comes to M-theory, one cannot compactify on 3.5 Calabi-Yau manifolds, so after compactifying 6 dimensions, where does the extra 1 dimension go? Is it just compactified on a circle, or something like that?