Called by some, "the theory of everything," superstring theory may lead to the unification of the two great theories of the twentieth century, general relativity and quantum field theory; it is one of the most active areas of research in theoretical physics. This course- tested comprehensive introductory graduate text stresses current areas of interest, including: string field theory, multi loops, Teichmueller spaces, conformal field theory, and four-dimensional strings. Prerequisites are an aquaintance with quantum mechanics and relativity. The second edition will be revised and updated throughout.

Klappentext

Called by some "the theory of everything," superstrings may solve a problem which has eluded physicists for the past 50 years -- the final unification of the two great theories of the twentieth century, general relativity and quantum field theory. This is a course-tested comprehensive introductory graduate text on superstrings which stresses the most current areas of interest, not covered in other presentation, including: string field theory, multi loops, Teichmueller spaces, conformal field theory, and four-dimensional strings. The book begins with a simple discussion of point particle theory, and uses the Feynman path integral technique to unify the presentation of superstrings. Prerequisites are an aquaintance with quantum mechanics and relativity. This second edition has been revised and updated throughout.

Inhalt

I. First Quantization and Path Integrals; 1. Path Integrals and Point Particles; 2. Nambu-Goto Strings; 3. Superstrings; 4. Conformal Field Theory and Kac-Moody Algebras; 5. Multiloops and Teichmüller Spaces; II. Second Quantization and the Search for Geometry; 6. Light Cone Field Theory; 7. BRST Field Theory; 8. Anomalies and the Atiyah-Singer Theorem; 9. Heterotic Strings and Compactification; 10. Calabi-Yau Spaces and Orbifolds; 11.M-theory and Duality; 12. Compatifications and BPS States 13. Solitons, D-branes, and Black Holes; Appendices; Index