String spectrum of (1 + 1)-dimensional large-N QCD with adjoint matter

We propose gauging matrix models of string theory to eliminate unwanted nonsinglet states. To this end we perform a discretized light-cone quantization of large-N gauge theory in 1 + 1 dimensions, with scalar or fermionic matter fields transforming in the adjoint representation of SU(N). The entire spectrum consists of bosonic and fermionic closed-string excitations, which are free as N. We analyze the general features of such states as a function of the cutoff and the gauge coupling, obtaining good convergence for the case of adjoint fermions. We discuss possible extensions of the model and the search for new noncritical string theories.