Lattice study of the simplified model of M-theory for larger gauge groups

Lattice discretization of the supersymmetric Yang-Mills quantum mechanics is dis cussed. First results of the quenched Monte Carlo simulations, for D=4 and with higher g auge groups (3 <= N <= 8), are presented. We confirm an earlier (N=2) evidence tha t the system reveals different behaviours at low and high temperatures separated by a narrow transiti on region. These two regimes may correspond to a black hole and elementary excitations phases conjectured in the M-theory. Dependence of the "transition temperature" on N is consistent with 't Hooft scaling and shows a smooth saturation of lattice results towards the large N limit. Is not yet resolved if the observed change between the two regimes corresponds to a genuine phase transition or to a gentle crossover . A new, noncompact formulation of the lattice model is also proposed and its advantages are briefly discussed.