String Theory and M-Theory: A Modern Introduction / Edition 1

by Katrin Becker, Melanie Becker, John H. Schwarz

Overview

String theory is one of the most exciting and challenging areas of modern theoretical physics. This book guides the reader from the basics of string theory to recent developments. It introduces the basics of perturbative string theory, world-sheet supersymmetry, space-time supersymmetry, conformal field theory and the heterotic string, before describing modern developments, including D-branes, string dualities and M-theory. It then covers string geometry and flux compactifications, applications to cosmology and particle physics, black holes in string theory and M-theory, and the microscopic origin of black-hole entropy. It concludes with Matrix theory, the AdS/CFT duality and its generalizations. This book is ideal for graduate students and researchers in modern string theory, and will make an excellent textbook for a one-year course on string theory. It contains over 120 exercises with solutions, and over 200 homework problems with solutions available on a password protected website for lecturers at www.cambridge.org/9780521860697.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521860697
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	12/07/2006
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	756
Product dimensions:	7.17(w) x 10.00(h) x 1.46(d)

About the Author

Katrin Becker is a Professor of Physics at Texas A & M University. She has been awarded the Radcliffe Fellowship from Harvard University in 2006 and received the Alfred Sloan Fellowship in 2003.

Melanie Becker is a Professor of Physics at Texas A & M University. In 2006 she has been awarded an Edward, Frances and Shirley B. Daniels Fellowship from the Radcliffe Fellowship for Advanced studies at Harvard University. In 2001 she received the Alfred Sloan Fellowship.

John Schwarz is Harold Brown Professor of Theoretical Physics at the California Institute of Technology. He is a MacArthur Fellow and member of the National Academy of Sciences.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction; 2. The bosonic string; 3. Conformal field theory and string interactions; 4. Strings with world-sheet supersymmetry; 5. Strings with space-time supersymmetry; 6. T-duality and D-branes; 7. The heterotic string; 8. M-theory and string duality; 9. String geometry; 10. Flux compactifications; 11. Black holes in string theory; 12. Gauge theory/string theory dualities; References; Index.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"This is the first comprehensive textbook on string theory to also offer an up-to-date picture of the most important theoretical developments of the last decade, including the AdS/CFT correspondence and flux compactifications, which have played a crucial role in modern efforts to make contact with experiment. An excellent resource for graduate students as well as researchers in high-energy physics and cosmology."
Nima Arkani-Hamed, Harvard University

"An exceptional introduction to string theory that contains a comprehensive treatment of all aspects of the theory, including recent developments. The clear pedagogical style and the many excellent exercises should provide the interested student or researcher a straightforward path to the frontiers of current research."
David Gross, Director of the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of California, Santa Barabara and winner of the Nobel Prize for Physics in 2004

"Masterfully written by pioneers of the subject, comprehensive, up-to-date and replete with illuminating problem sets and their solution, String Theory and M-theory: A Modern Introduction provides an ideal preparation for research on the current forefront of the fundamental laws of nature. It is destined to become the standard textbook in the subject."
Andrew Strominger, Harvard University

"This book is a magnificcent resource for students and researchers alike in the rapidly evolving field of string theory. It is unique in that it is targeted for students without any knowledge of string theory and at the same time it includes the very latest developments of the field, all presented in a very fluid and simple form. The lucid description is nicely complemented by very instructive problems. I highly recommend this book to all researchers interested in the beautiful field of string theory."
Cumrun Vafa, Harvard University

"This elegantly written book will be a valuable resource for students looking for an entryway to the vast and exciting topic of string theory. The authors have skillfully made a selection of topics aimed at helping the beginner get up to speed. I am sure it will be widely read."
Edward Witten, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton and winner of the Fields Medal in 1990

"A welcome addition to the literature and most likely will be the required text for those physicists who intend to study the many facets of this fascinating subject... String Theory and M-Theory is THE string textbook."
Pierre Ramond, University of Florida, Gainesville, Physics Today

"... a beautiful description of almost all the questions in the field that have been answered so far and those that are still open. The reader of the book gets a good picture of the current state of string theory..."
Marcel L. Vonk, Johannesburg, Mathematical Reviews

Editorial Reviews

"This is the first comprehensive textbook on string theory to also offer an up-to-date picture of the most important theoretical developments of the last decade, including the AdS/CFT correspondence and flux compactifications, which have played a crucial role in modern efforts to make contact with experiment. An excellent resource for graduate students as well as researchers in high-energy physics and cosmology."
Nima Arkani-Hamed, Harvard University

"An exceptional introduction to string theory that contains a comprehensive treatment of all aspects of the theory, including recent developments. The clear pedagogical style and the many excellent exercises should provide the interested student or researcher a straightforward path to the frontiers of current research."
David Gross, Director of the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of California, Santa Barabara and winner of the Nobel Prize for Physics in 2004

"Masterfully written by pioneers of the subject, comprehensive, up-to-date and replete with illuminating problem sets and their solution, String Theory and M-theory: A Modern Introduction provides an ideal preparation for research on the current forefront of the fundamental laws of nature. It is destined to become the standard textbook in the subject."
Andrew Strominger, Harvard University

"This book is a magnificcent resource for students and researchers alike in the rapidly evolving field of string theory. It is unique in that it is targeted for students without any knowledge of string theory and at the same time it includes the very latest developments of the field, all presented in a very fluid and simple form. The lucid description is nicely complemented by very instructive problems. I highly recommend this book to all researchers interested in the beautiful field of string theory."
Cumrun Vafa, Harvard University

"This elegantly written book will be a valuable resource for students looking for an entryway to the vast and exciting topic of string theory. The authors have skillfully made a selection of topics aimed at helping the beginner get up to speed. I am sure it will be widely read."
Edward Witten, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton and winner of the Fields Medal in 1990

"A welcome addition to the literature and most likely will be the required text for those physicists who intend to study the many facets of this fascinating subject... String Theory and M-Theory is THE string textbook."
Pierre Ramond, University of Florida, Gainesville, Physics Today


"... a beautiful description of almost all the questions in the field that have been answered so far and those that are still open. The reader of the book gets a good picture of the current state of string theory..."
Marcel L. Vonk, Johannesburg, Mathematical Reviews

From the Publisher