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.

A highly-praised comprehensive, introductory reference on superstring theory Begins with a simple discussion of point particle theory and uses Feynman path integrals to unify the presentation of superstrings Incorporates the latest advances and stresses current areas of interest, including: string field theory, multi-loops, Teichmüller spaces, conformal field theory, and four-dimensional strings Kaku is a well-known author of both scientific and popular-level books who is sometimes cited in the press Kaku's is the best comprehensive text on string theory, including applications to phenomenology" FOUNDATIONS OF PYSICS

Autorentext
Michio Kaku, geb. 1947, ist Professor für Theoretische Physik an der New Yorker City University und hat die Stringtheorie mitentwickelt. Daneben hat er mehrere populärwissenschaftliche Bücher geschrieben und verfasst regelmäßig Beiträge für Zeitungen und Magazine, Hörfunk und Fernsehen.

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 NambuGoto 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.- III Phenomenology and Model Building.- 8 Anomalies and the AtiyahSinger Theorem.- 9 Heterotic Strings and Compactification.- 10 CalabiYau Spaces and Orbifolds.- IV M-Theory.- 11 M-Theory and Duality.- 12 Compactifications and BPS States.- 13Solitons, D-Branes, and Black Holes.- A.1 A Brief Introduction to Group Theory.- A.2 A Brief Introduction to General Relativity.- A.3 A Brief Introduction to the Theory of Forms.- A.4 A Brief Introduction to Supersymmetry.- A.5 A Brief Introduction to Supergravity.- A.6 Notation.- References.