Introduction to Superstrings

Introduction to Superstrings

Author: Michio Kaku

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2012-12-06

Total Pages: 579

ISBN-13: 1468403192

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We are all agreed that your theory is crazy. The question which divides us is whether it is crazy enough. Niels Bohr Superstring theory has emerged as the most promising candidate for a quan tum theory of all known interactions. Superstrings apparently solve a problem that has defied solution for the past 50 years, namely the unification of the two great fundamental physical theories of the century, quantum field theory and general relativity. Superstring theory introduces an entirely new physical picture into theoretical physics and a new mathematics that has startled even the mathematicians. Ironically, although superstring theory is supposed to provide a unified field theory of the universe, the theory itself often seems like a confused jumble offolklore, random rules of thumb, and intuition. This is because the develop ment of superstring theory has been unlike that of any other theory, such as general relativity, which began with a geometry and an action and later evolved into a quantum theory. Superstring theory, by contrast, has been evolving backward for the past 20 years. It has a bizarre history, beginning with the purely accidental discovery of the quantum theory in 1968 by G. Veneziano and M. Suzuki. Thumbing through old math books, they stumbled by chance on the Beta function, written down in the last century by mathematician Leonhard Euler.


Book Synopsis Introduction to Superstrings by : Michio Kaku

Download or read book Introduction to Superstrings written by Michio Kaku and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2012-12-06 with total page 579 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: We are all agreed that your theory is crazy. The question which divides us is whether it is crazy enough. Niels Bohr Superstring theory has emerged as the most promising candidate for a quan tum theory of all known interactions. Superstrings apparently solve a problem that has defied solution for the past 50 years, namely the unification of the two great fundamental physical theories of the century, quantum field theory and general relativity. Superstring theory introduces an entirely new physical picture into theoretical physics and a new mathematics that has startled even the mathematicians. Ironically, although superstring theory is supposed to provide a unified field theory of the universe, the theory itself often seems like a confused jumble offolklore, random rules of thumb, and intuition. This is because the develop ment of superstring theory has been unlike that of any other theory, such as general relativity, which began with a geometry and an action and later evolved into a quantum theory. Superstring theory, by contrast, has been evolving backward for the past 20 years. It has a bizarre history, beginning with the purely accidental discovery of the quantum theory in 1968 by G. Veneziano and M. Suzuki. Thumbing through old math books, they stumbled by chance on the Beta function, written down in the last century by mathematician Leonhard Euler.


Superstring Theory

Superstring Theory

Author: Michael B. Green

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2012-07-26

Total Pages: 609

ISBN-13: 1107029139

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The twenty-fifth anniversary edition featuring a new Preface, invaluable for graduate students and researchers in high energy physics and astrophysics.


Book Synopsis Superstring Theory by : Michael B. Green

Download or read book Superstring Theory written by Michael B. Green and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2012-07-26 with total page 609 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The twenty-fifth anniversary edition featuring a new Preface, invaluable for graduate students and researchers in high energy physics and astrophysics.


Superstring Theory: Volume 2, Loop Amplitudes, Anomalies and Phenomenology

Superstring Theory: Volume 2, Loop Amplitudes, Anomalies and Phenomenology

Author: Michael B. Green

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 1988-07-29

Total Pages: 608

ISBN-13: 9780521357531

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A two-volume systematic exposition of superstring theory and its applications which presents many of the new mathematical tools that theoretical physicists are likely to need in coming years. This volume contains an introduction to superstrings


Book Synopsis Superstring Theory: Volume 2, Loop Amplitudes, Anomalies and Phenomenology by : Michael B. Green

Download or read book Superstring Theory: Volume 2, Loop Amplitudes, Anomalies and Phenomenology written by Michael B. Green and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 1988-07-29 with total page 608 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A two-volume systematic exposition of superstring theory and its applications which presents many of the new mathematical tools that theoretical physicists are likely to need in coming years. This volume contains an introduction to superstrings


Introduction to Superstring Theory

Introduction to Superstring Theory

Author: Elias Kiritsis

Publisher: Cornell University Press

Published: 1998-01

Total Pages: 315

ISBN-13: 9789061868941

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String Theory, now almost 30 years of age, was partly forgotten but came back to the forefront of theoretical particle physics in 1984. In this book, based on lectures by the author at the K.U.Leuven and at the University of Padova, Elias Kiritsis takes the reader through the developments of the last 15 years: conformal field theory, the various superstrings and their spectra, compactifications, and the effective description of low energy degrees of freedom. It ends by showing a glimpse of the most recent developments, dualities of strings and higher dimensional objects, that influence both traditional field theory and present day mathematics. Readership: Theoretical physicists, and mathematicians with an interest in modern string theory. 1. Introduction 2. Historical perspective 3. Classical string theory 3.1. The point particle 3.2. Relativistic strings 3.3. Oscillator expansions 4. Quantization of the bosonic string 4.1. Covariant canonical quantization 4.2. Light-cone quantization 4.3. Spectrum of the bosonic string 4.4. Path integral quantization 4.5. Topologically non-trivial world-sheets 4.6. BRST primer 4.7. BRST in string theory and the physical spectrum 4.8. Interactions and loop amplitudes 5. Conformal field theory 5.1. Conformal transformations 5.2. Conformally invariant field theory 5.3. Radial quantization 5.4. Example: the free boson 5.5. The central charge 5.6. The free fermion 5.7. Mode expansions 5.8. The Hilbert space 5.9. Representations of the conformal algebra 5.10. Affine algebras 5.11. Free fermions and O(N) affine symmetry 5.12. N=1 superconformal symmetry 5.13. N=2 superconformal symmetry 5.14. N=4 superconformal symmetry 5.15. The CFT of ghosts 6. CFT on the torus 6.1. Compact scalars 6.2. Enhanced symmetry and the string Higgs effect 6.3. T-duality 6.4. Free fermions on the torus 6.5. Bosonization 6.6. Orbifolds 6.7. CFT on higher-genus Riemann surfaces 7. Scattering amplitudes and vertex operators of bosonic strings 8. Strings in background fields and low-energy effective actions 9. Superstrings and supersymmetry 9.1. Closed (type-II) superstrings 9.2. Massless R-R states 9.3. Type-I superstrings 9.4. Heterotic superstrings 9.5. Superstring vertex operators 9.6. Supersymmetric effective actions 10. Anomalies 11. Compactification and supersymmetry breaking 11.1. Toroidal compactifications 11.2. Compactification on non-trivial manifolds 11.3. World-sheet versus spacetime supersymmetry 11.4. Heterotic orbifold compactifications with N=2 supersymmetry 11.5. Spontaneous supersymmetry breaking 11.6. Heterotic N=1 theories and chirality in four dimensions 11.7. Orbifold compactifications of the type-II string 12. Loop corrections to effective couplings in string theory 12.1. Calculation of gauge thresholds 12.2. On-shell infrared regularization 12.3. Gravitational thresholds 12.4. Anomalous U(1)?s 12.5. N=1,2 examples of thresholds corrections 12.6. N=2 universality of thresholds 12.7. Unification 13. Non-perturbative string dualities: a foreword 13.1. Antisymmetric tensors and p-branes 13.2. BPS states and bounds 13.3. Heterotic/type-I duality in ten dimensions 13.4. Type-IIA versus M-theory 13.5. M-theory and the E8xE8 heterotic string 13.6. Self-duality of the type-IIB string 13.7. D-branes are the type-II R-R charged states 13.8. D-brane actions 13.9. Heterotic/type-II duality in six and four dimensions 14. Outlook Appendices A. Theta functions B. Toroidal lattice sums C. Toroidal Kaluza-Klein reduction D. N=1,2,4, D=4 supergravity coupled to matter E. BPS Multiplets and helicity supertrace formulae F. Modular forms G. Helicity string partition functions H. Electric-Magnetic duality in D=4 References ISBN10:9061868947 Imprint:Leuven University Press Language: English NUR * 925 Theoretische natuurkunde * Number of pages: v-316 * Width: 16 cm * Height: 24 cm * Elias Kiritsis, Author (all publications from this author/editor with Leuven University Press)


Book Synopsis Introduction to Superstring Theory by : Elias Kiritsis

Download or read book Introduction to Superstring Theory written by Elias Kiritsis and published by Cornell University Press. This book was released on 1998-01 with total page 315 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: String Theory, now almost 30 years of age, was partly forgotten but came back to the forefront of theoretical particle physics in 1984. In this book, based on lectures by the author at the K.U.Leuven and at the University of Padova, Elias Kiritsis takes the reader through the developments of the last 15 years: conformal field theory, the various superstrings and their spectra, compactifications, and the effective description of low energy degrees of freedom. It ends by showing a glimpse of the most recent developments, dualities of strings and higher dimensional objects, that influence both traditional field theory and present day mathematics. Readership: Theoretical physicists, and mathematicians with an interest in modern string theory. 1. Introduction 2. Historical perspective 3. Classical string theory 3.1. The point particle 3.2. Relativistic strings 3.3. Oscillator expansions 4. Quantization of the bosonic string 4.1. Covariant canonical quantization 4.2. Light-cone quantization 4.3. Spectrum of the bosonic string 4.4. Path integral quantization 4.5. Topologically non-trivial world-sheets 4.6. BRST primer 4.7. BRST in string theory and the physical spectrum 4.8. Interactions and loop amplitudes 5. Conformal field theory 5.1. Conformal transformations 5.2. Conformally invariant field theory 5.3. Radial quantization 5.4. Example: the free boson 5.5. The central charge 5.6. The free fermion 5.7. Mode expansions 5.8. The Hilbert space 5.9. Representations of the conformal algebra 5.10. Affine algebras 5.11. Free fermions and O(N) affine symmetry 5.12. N=1 superconformal symmetry 5.13. N=2 superconformal symmetry 5.14. N=4 superconformal symmetry 5.15. The CFT of ghosts 6. CFT on the torus 6.1. Compact scalars 6.2. Enhanced symmetry and the string Higgs effect 6.3. T-duality 6.4. Free fermions on the torus 6.5. Bosonization 6.6. Orbifolds 6.7. CFT on higher-genus Riemann surfaces 7. Scattering amplitudes and vertex operators of bosonic strings 8. Strings in background fields and low-energy effective actions 9. Superstrings and supersymmetry 9.1. Closed (type-II) superstrings 9.2. Massless R-R states 9.3. Type-I superstrings 9.4. Heterotic superstrings 9.5. Superstring vertex operators 9.6. Supersymmetric effective actions 10. Anomalies 11. Compactification and supersymmetry breaking 11.1. Toroidal compactifications 11.2. Compactification on non-trivial manifolds 11.3. World-sheet versus spacetime supersymmetry 11.4. Heterotic orbifold compactifications with N=2 supersymmetry 11.5. Spontaneous supersymmetry breaking 11.6. Heterotic N=1 theories and chirality in four dimensions 11.7. Orbifold compactifications of the type-II string 12. Loop corrections to effective couplings in string theory 12.1. Calculation of gauge thresholds 12.2. On-shell infrared regularization 12.3. Gravitational thresholds 12.4. Anomalous U(1)?s 12.5. N=1,2 examples of thresholds corrections 12.6. N=2 universality of thresholds 12.7. Unification 13. Non-perturbative string dualities: a foreword 13.1. Antisymmetric tensors and p-branes 13.2. BPS states and bounds 13.3. Heterotic/type-I duality in ten dimensions 13.4. Type-IIA versus M-theory 13.5. M-theory and the E8xE8 heterotic string 13.6. Self-duality of the type-IIB string 13.7. D-branes are the type-II R-R charged states 13.8. D-brane actions 13.9. Heterotic/type-II duality in six and four dimensions 14. Outlook Appendices A. Theta functions B. Toroidal lattice sums C. Toroidal Kaluza-Klein reduction D. N=1,2,4, D=4 supergravity coupled to matter E. BPS Multiplets and helicity supertrace formulae F. Modular forms G. Helicity string partition functions H. Electric-Magnetic duality in D=4 References ISBN10:9061868947 Imprint:Leuven University Press Language: English NUR * 925 Theoretische natuurkunde * Number of pages: v-316 * Width: 16 cm * Height: 24 cm * Elias Kiritsis, Author (all publications from this author/editor with Leuven University Press)


Superstring Theory: Volume 1, Introduction

Superstring Theory: Volume 1, Introduction

Author: Michael B. Green

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2012-07-26

Total Pages: 481

ISBN-13: 1139537091

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Twenty-five years ago, Michael Green, John Schwarz, and Edward Witten wrote two volumes on string theory. Published during a period of rapid progress in this subject, these volumes were highly influential for a generation of students and researchers. Despite the immense progress that has been made in the field since then, the systematic exposition of the foundations of superstring theory presented in these volumes is just as relevant today as when first published. A self-contained introduction to superstrings, Volume 1 begins with an elementary treatment of the bosonic string, before describing the incorporation of additional degrees of freedom: fermionic degrees of freedom leading to supersymmetry and internal quantum numbers leading to gauge interactions. A detailed discussion of the evaluation of tree-approximation scattering amplitudes is also given. Featuring a new preface setting the work in context in light of recent advances, this book is invaluable for graduate students and researchers in general relativity and elementary particle theory.


Book Synopsis Superstring Theory: Volume 1, Introduction by : Michael B. Green

Download or read book Superstring Theory: Volume 1, Introduction written by Michael B. Green and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2012-07-26 with total page 481 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Twenty-five years ago, Michael Green, John Schwarz, and Edward Witten wrote two volumes on string theory. Published during a period of rapid progress in this subject, these volumes were highly influential for a generation of students and researchers. Despite the immense progress that has been made in the field since then, the systematic exposition of the foundations of superstring theory presented in these volumes is just as relevant today as when first published. A self-contained introduction to superstrings, Volume 1 begins with an elementary treatment of the bosonic string, before describing the incorporation of additional degrees of freedom: fermionic degrees of freedom leading to supersymmetry and internal quantum numbers leading to gauge interactions. A detailed discussion of the evaluation of tree-approximation scattering amplitudes is also given. Featuring a new preface setting the work in context in light of recent advances, this book is invaluable for graduate students and researchers in general relativity and elementary particle theory.


String Theory and M-theory

String Theory and M-theory

Author: Becker Katrin Schwarz John H Becker Melanie

Publisher:

Published: 2014-05-14

Total Pages: 757

ISBN-13: 9780511648830

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This book guides the reader through string theory, one of the most exciting and challenging areas of modern theoretical physics. It is ideal for graduate students and researchers in modern string theory, and will make an excellent textbook. It contains exercises with solutions, and homework problems with solutions.


Book Synopsis String Theory and M-theory by : Becker Katrin Schwarz John H Becker Melanie

Download or read book String Theory and M-theory written by Becker Katrin Schwarz John H Becker Melanie and published by . This book was released on 2014-05-14 with total page 757 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book guides the reader through string theory, one of the most exciting and challenging areas of modern theoretical physics. It is ideal for graduate students and researchers in modern string theory, and will make an excellent textbook. It contains exercises with solutions, and homework problems with solutions.


Superstring Theory: Volume 1, Introduction

Superstring Theory: Volume 1, Introduction

Author: Michael B. Green

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 1988-07-29

Total Pages: 484

ISBN-13: 9780521357524

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Vol. 1.


Book Synopsis Superstring Theory: Volume 1, Introduction by : Michael B. Green

Download or read book Superstring Theory: Volume 1, Introduction written by Michael B. Green and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 1988-07-29 with total page 484 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Vol. 1.


The Little Book of String Theory

The Little Book of String Theory

Author: Steven S. Gubser

Publisher: Princeton University Press

Published: 2010-02-08

Total Pages: 184

ISBN-13: 1400834430

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The essential beginner's guide to string theory The Little Book of String Theory offers a short, accessible, and entertaining introduction to one of the most talked-about areas of physics today. String theory has been called the "theory of everything." It seeks to describe all the fundamental forces of nature. It encompasses gravity and quantum mechanics in one unifying theory. But it is unproven and fraught with controversy. After reading this book, you'll be able to draw your own conclusions about string theory. Steve Gubser begins by explaining Einstein's famous equation E = mc2, quantum mechanics, and black holes. He then gives readers a crash course in string theory and the core ideas behind it. In plain English and with a minimum of mathematics, Gubser covers strings, branes, string dualities, extra dimensions, curved spacetime, quantum fluctuations, symmetry, and supersymmetry. He describes efforts to link string theory to experimental physics and uses analogies that nonscientists can understand. How does Chopin's Fantasie-Impromptu relate to quantum mechanics? What would it be like to fall into a black hole? Why is dancing a waltz similar to contemplating a string duality? Find out in the pages of this book. The Little Book of String Theory is the essential, most up-to-date beginner's guide to this elegant, multidimensional field of physics.


Book Synopsis The Little Book of String Theory by : Steven S. Gubser

Download or read book The Little Book of String Theory written by Steven S. Gubser and published by Princeton University Press. This book was released on 2010-02-08 with total page 184 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The essential beginner's guide to string theory The Little Book of String Theory offers a short, accessible, and entertaining introduction to one of the most talked-about areas of physics today. String theory has been called the "theory of everything." It seeks to describe all the fundamental forces of nature. It encompasses gravity and quantum mechanics in one unifying theory. But it is unproven and fraught with controversy. After reading this book, you'll be able to draw your own conclusions about string theory. Steve Gubser begins by explaining Einstein's famous equation E = mc2, quantum mechanics, and black holes. He then gives readers a crash course in string theory and the core ideas behind it. In plain English and with a minimum of mathematics, Gubser covers strings, branes, string dualities, extra dimensions, curved spacetime, quantum fluctuations, symmetry, and supersymmetry. He describes efforts to link string theory to experimental physics and uses analogies that nonscientists can understand. How does Chopin's Fantasie-Impromptu relate to quantum mechanics? What would it be like to fall into a black hole? Why is dancing a waltz similar to contemplating a string duality? Find out in the pages of this book. The Little Book of String Theory is the essential, most up-to-date beginner's guide to this elegant, multidimensional field of physics.


Basic Concepts of String Theory

Basic Concepts of String Theory

Author: Ralph Blumenhagen

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2012-10-03

Total Pages: 787

ISBN-13: 3642294979

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The purpose of this book is to thoroughly prepare the reader for research in string theory at an intermediate level. As such it is not a compendium of results but intended as textbook in the sense that most of the material is organized in a pedagogical and self-contained fashion. Beyond the basics, a number of more advanced topics are introduced, such as conformal field theory, superstrings and string dualities - the text does not cover applications to black hole physics and cosmology, nor strings theory at finite temperatures. End-of-chapter references have been added to guide the reader wishing to pursue further studies or to start research in well-defined topics covered by this book.


Book Synopsis Basic Concepts of String Theory by : Ralph Blumenhagen

Download or read book Basic Concepts of String Theory written by Ralph Blumenhagen and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2012-10-03 with total page 787 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The purpose of this book is to thoroughly prepare the reader for research in string theory at an intermediate level. As such it is not a compendium of results but intended as textbook in the sense that most of the material is organized in a pedagogical and self-contained fashion. Beyond the basics, a number of more advanced topics are introduced, such as conformal field theory, superstrings and string dualities - the text does not cover applications to black hole physics and cosmology, nor strings theory at finite temperatures. End-of-chapter references have been added to guide the reader wishing to pursue further studies or to start research in well-defined topics covered by this book.


String Field Theory

String Field Theory

Author: Harold Erbin

Publisher: Springer Nature

Published: 2021-03-26

Total Pages: 424

ISBN-13: 3030653218

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This textbook provides an introduction to string field theory (SFT). String theory is usually formulated in the worldsheet formalism, which describes a single string (first-quantization). While this approach is intuitive and could be pushed far due to the exceptional properties of two-dimensional theories, it becomes cumbersome for some questions or even fails at a more fundamental level. These motivations have led to the development of SFT, a description of string theory using the field theory formalism (second-quantization). As a field theory, SFT provides a rigorous and constructive formulation of string theory. The main focus of the book is the construction of the closed bosonic SFT. The accent is put on providing the reader with the foundations, conceptual understanding and intuition of what SFT is. After reading this book, the reader is able to study the applications from the literature. The book is organized in two parts. The first part reviews the notions of the worldsheet theory that are necessary to build SFT (worldsheet path integral, CFT and BRST quantization). The second part starts by introducing general concepts of SFT from the BRST quantization. Then, it introduces off-shell string amplitudes before providing a Feynman diagrams interpretation from which the building blocks of SFT are extracted. After constructing the closed SFT, the author outlines the proofs of several important properties such as background independence, unitarity and crossing symmetry. Finally, the generalization to the superstring is also discussed.


Book Synopsis String Field Theory by : Harold Erbin

Download or read book String Field Theory written by Harold Erbin and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2021-03-26 with total page 424 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This textbook provides an introduction to string field theory (SFT). String theory is usually formulated in the worldsheet formalism, which describes a single string (first-quantization). While this approach is intuitive and could be pushed far due to the exceptional properties of two-dimensional theories, it becomes cumbersome for some questions or even fails at a more fundamental level. These motivations have led to the development of SFT, a description of string theory using the field theory formalism (second-quantization). As a field theory, SFT provides a rigorous and constructive formulation of string theory. The main focus of the book is the construction of the closed bosonic SFT. The accent is put on providing the reader with the foundations, conceptual understanding and intuition of what SFT is. After reading this book, the reader is able to study the applications from the literature. The book is organized in two parts. The first part reviews the notions of the worldsheet theory that are necessary to build SFT (worldsheet path integral, CFT and BRST quantization). The second part starts by introducing general concepts of SFT from the BRST quantization. Then, it introduces off-shell string amplitudes before providing a Feynman diagrams interpretation from which the building blocks of SFT are extracted. After constructing the closed SFT, the author outlines the proofs of several important properties such as background independence, unitarity and crossing symmetry. Finally, the generalization to the superstring is also discussed.