String Theory and M-Theory: A Modern Introduction

Katrin Becker; Melanie Becker; John H. Schwarz

doi:10.1017/CBO9780511816086

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.

'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 Barbara 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 solutions, 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 magnificent 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 entry-way 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, winner of the Fields Medal in 1990

String Theory and M-Theory

A Modern Introduction

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Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-vi

Contents
pp vii-x

Preface
pp xi-xvi

1 - Introduction
pp 1-16

2 - The bosonic string
pp 17-57

3 - Conformal field theory and string interactions
pp 58-108

4 - Strings with world-sheet supersymmetry
pp 109-147

5 - Strings with space-time supersymmetry
pp 148-186

6 - T-duality and D-branes
pp 187-248

7 - The heterotic string
pp 249-295

8 - M-theory and string duality
pp 296-353

9 - String geometry
pp 354-455

10 - Flux compactifications
pp 456-548

11 - Black holes in string theory
pp 549-609

12 - Gauge theory/string theory dualities
pp 610-689

Bibliographic discussion
pp 690-699

Bibliography
pp 700-725

Index
pp 726-739

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