D-Branes

by Clifford V. Johnson

Overview

D-branes represent a key theoretical tool in the understanding of strongly coupled superstring theory and M-theory. They have led to many striking discoveries, including the precise microphysics underlying the thermodynamic behaviour of certain black holes, and remarkable holographic dualities between large-N gauge theories and gravity. This book provides a self-contained introduction to the technology of D-branes, presenting their development in a pedagogical manner. The introductory material is developed by first starting with the main features of string theory needed to get rapidly to grips with D-branes. Many advanced applications are covered, with discussions of open problems which could form the basis for other avenues of research. Suitable as a textbook in graduate courses on modern string theory and theoretical particle physics, it will also be an indispensable reference for seasoned practitioners. First published in 2003, this title has been reissued as an Open Access publication on Cambridge Core.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781009401364
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	07/27/2023
Series:	Cambridge Monographs on Mathematical Physics
Pages:	574
Product dimensions:	7.28(w) x 10.31(h) x 1.42(d)

About the Author

Clifford V. Johnson obtained his BSc in physics at Imperial College, University of London, and his PhD in theoretical physics from the University of Southampton. He won a 1992 Lindeman Fellowship and a 1992 SERC NATO Fellowship, and became a member of the School of Natural Sciences at the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton. He then spent a year teaching and undertaking research at the Physics Department of Princeton University, and went on to hold a postdoctoral position at the Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara. He was then Assistant Professor at the University of Kentucky and Reader in Theoretical Physics at Durham University. He is currently a professor in the Physics and Astronomy Department at the University of Southern California.

Table of Contents

List of inserts; Preface; 1. Overview and overture; 2. Relativistic strings; 3. A closer look at the world-sheet; 4. Strings on circles and T-duality; 5. Background fields and world-volume actions; 6. D-branes tension and boundary states; 7. Supersymmetric strings; 8. Supersymmetric strings and T-duality; 9. World-volume curvature couplings; 10. The geometry of D-branes; 11. Multiple D-branes and bound states; 12. Strong coupling and string duality; 13. D-branes and geometry I; 14. K3 orientifolds and compactification; 15. D-branes and geometry II; 16. Towards M- and F-theory; 17. D-branes and black holes; 18. D-branes, gravity and gauge theory; 19. The holographic renormalisation group; 20. Taking stock; References; Index.

Editorial Reviews

"...the most up-to-date string text available. It is an excellent resource..." Donald Marolf, University of California Santa Barbara, American Journal of Physics

"D-Branes is an excellent complement to other existing texts on string theory..." Physics Today

From the Publisher