  In this paper we study the conjectured dual operators to a near maximal giant
graviton and their open string fluctuations in the large $N$ limit. Using
matrix model estimates we show that the spectrum of states near the D-brane
operator is consistent with a Fock space of open plus closed string states. We
also give an argument that these operators, in spite of having large R charge
of order N, are amenable to being studied with standard perturbative
techniques, which organize themselves in a 1/N expansion. Also the spectrum of
operators dual to massless fluctuations on the D-brane is shown to be protected
from weak to strong coupling at leading order, so it is possible to read the
shape of the dual operator by understanding how the spherical harmonics of the
D-brane fluctuations appear.
