A primer on string theory
By: Volker Schomerus, Deutsches Elektronen-Sychrotron (DESY) Hamburg
Published: 2017
Language: eng
Number of pages: 223
ISBN-13: 9781107160019; 9781316612835
Copyright date: 2017
Subjects: Superstring theories; String models
Description: Since its conception in the 1960s, string theory has been hailed as one of the most promising routes we have to unify quantum mechanics and general relativity. This book provides a concise introduction to string theory, explaining central concepts and mathematical tools and covering recent developments in physics, including compactifications and gauge/string dualities. With string theory being a multidisciplinary field interfacing with high-energy physics, mathematics, and quantum field theory, this book is ideal for both students with no previous knowledge of the field and scholars from other disciplines who are looking for an introduction to basic concepts. -- from back cover.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (pages 217-220) and index.
Table of contents: title: Historical introduction and overview; title: The classical closed bosonic string; title: Free bosonic quantum field theory; title: Covariant quantization; title: Light-cone quantization; title: Branes and quantization of open strings; title: Open strings and gauge theory; title: Free fermionic quantum field theory; title: Supersymmetry in 10 dimensions; title: Construction of type IIA/B superstrings; title: Branes in type II superstring theory; title: Construction of heterotic superstrings; title: Introduction to conformal field theory; title: Modular invariants and orbifolds; title: Closed strings on the 3-sphere; title: Calabi-Yau spaces; title: Calabi-Yau compactifications; title: String dualities; title: Gauge/string dualities; title: AdS/CFT correspondence.