A Mathematical Introduction to String Theory
Subtitle: Variational Problems, Geometric and Probabilistic Methods (London Mathematical Society Lecture Note Series)
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Published: August 28, 1997
Language: eng
Format: Paperback
Number of pages: 143
ISBN-13: 9780521556101
Subjects: Calculus & mathematical analysis; Theoretical methods; Science; Mathematical physics; Atomic And Nuclear Physics; Mathematical Statistics; String models; Mathematics; Probability & Statistics - General; Science/Mathematics; Physics; Applied; Nuclear Physics; Mathematics / Applied; Mathematics / Statistics; Mathematics-Probability & Statistics - General; Science-Nuclear Physics; String models--Mathematics
First sentence: In recent years string theory has attracted great interest in physics and mathematics and has become one of the main sources of mutual stimulation and cross fertilization in these areas.
Description: Classical string theory is concerned with the propagation of classical 1-dimensional curves 'strings', and the theory has connections to the calculus of variations, minimal surfaces and harmonic maps. The quantization of string theory gives rise to problems in different areas, according to the method used. The representation theory of Lie, Kac-Moody and Virasoro algebras have been used for such quantization. In this lecture note the authors give an introduction to certain global analytic and probabilistic aspects of string theory. It is their intention to bring together, and make explicit the necessary mathematical tools. Researchers with an interest in string theory, in either mathematics or theoretical physics, will find this a stimulating volume.