An Introduction to String Theory and D-Brane Dynamics

by Szabo, Richard J.

• ISBN13: 9781848166226
• ISBN10: 1848166222
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2011-02-28
• Publisher: Imperial College Pr

Summary

This invaluable book provides a quick introduction to the rudiments of perturbative string theory and a detailed introduction to the more current topic of D-brane dynamics. The presentation is very pedagogical, with much of the technical detail streamlined. The rapid but highly coherent introduction to the subject is perhaps what distinguishes this book from other string theory or D-brane books. This second edition includes an additional appendix with solutions to the exercises, thus expanding on some of the technical material and making the book more appealing for use in lecture courses. The material is based on mini-courses in theoretical high energy physics delivered by the author at various summer schools, so its actual level has been appropriately tested.

Table of Contents

Preface to Second Edition	p. vii
Preface to First Edition	p. ix
A Brief History of String Theory	p. 1
Classical String Theory	p. 9
The Relativistic Particle	p. 9
Reparametrization Invariance	p. 10
Examples	p. 11
The Bosonic String	p. 12
Worldsheet Symmetries	p. 15
String Equations of Motion	p. 16
Mode Expansions	p. 18
Mass-Shell Constraints	p. 20
Quantization of the Bosonic String	p. 21
Canonical Quantization	p. 21
Normal Ordering	p. 23
The Physical String Spectrum	p. 25
The Open String Spectrum	p. 25
The Closed String Spectrum	p. 28
Worldsheet-Spacetime Interplay	p. 31
Vertex Operators	p. 31
Examples	p. 33
String Perturbation Theory	p. 34
Chan-Paton Factors	p. 36
Superstrings	p. 39
Motivation	p. 39
The RNS Superstring	p. 40
Mode Expansions	p. 42
The Superstring Spectrum	p. 44
The Open Superstring Spectrum	p. 46
The Closed Superstring Spectrum	p. 47
The GSO Projection	p. 48
Spacetime Supersymmetry	p. 49
Example: One-Loop Vacuum Amplitude	p. 50
Fermionic Spin Structures	p. 54
Ramond-Ramond Charges and T-Duality	p. 59
Ramond-Ramond Charges	p. 59
Remarks on Superstring Types	p. 60
Type II Ramond-Ramond States	p. 61
Ramond-Ramond Charges	p. 64
T-Duality for Closed Strings	p. 65
String Geometry	p. 69
T-Duality for Open Strings	p. 69
T-Duality for Type II Superstrings	p. 72
D-Branes and Gauge Theory	p. 75
D-Branes	p. 75
Wilson Lines	p. 78
D-Brane Terminology	p. 81
Collective Coordinates for D-Branes	p. 81
Non-Abelian Gauge Symmetry	p. 83
The Born-Infeld Action	p. 84
D-Brane Dynamics	p. 91
The Dirac-Born-Infeld Action	p. 91
Example	p. 94
Supergravity Couplings	p. 96
Supersymmetric Yang-Mills Theory	p. 98
Example	p. 102
Forces Between D-Branes	p. 103
BPS States	p. 106
Ramond-Ramond Couplings of D-Branes	p. 109
D-Brane Anomalies	p. 109
Chern-Simons Actions	p. 113
Branes within Branes	p. 116
Solutions to Exercises	p. 119
Bibliography	p. 141
Index	p. 145
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