Progress in String Theory and M-Theory

by Baulieu, Laurent; Green, Michael; Picco, Marco; Windey, Paul

• ISBN13: 9780792370338
• ISBN10: 0792370333
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2001-08-01
• Publisher: Kluwer Academic Pub

Summary

Recent developments in supersymmetric field theory, string theory, and brane theory have been revolutionary. The main focus of the present volume is developments of M-theory and its applications to superstring theory, quantum gravity, and the theory of elementary particles. Topics included are D-branes, boundary states, and world volume solitons. Anti-De-Sitter quantum field theory is explained, emphasising the way it can enforce the holography principle, together with the relation to black hole physics and the way Branes provide the microscopic interpretation for the entropy of black holes. Developments in D-branes within type-I superstring and related theories are described. There are also possible phenomenological implications of superstring theory that would lie within the range of quantum gravity effects in the future generation of accelerators, around 1 TeV.

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
Lectures
Scales of String/M Theory	1	(14)
Constantin Bachas
Introduction
Supersymmetric Unification
Weakly Coupled Heterotic String
Brane World and Type-1 Theory
Experimental Bounds
The Transverse Desert
The Puzzle of Unification
On the Heterotic/F-Theory Duality in Eight Dimensions	15	(32)
Wolfgang Lerche
Introduction
BPS Saturated, exact Heterotic Amplitudes at One-Loop Order
Review of F-Theory
Geometric Determination of the Threshold Couplings
Solution via the Mirror Map
Conclusion
Large N Field Theories, String Theory and Gravity	47	(70)
Juan Maldacena
General Introduction
The Correspondence
Tests of the ADS/CFT Correspondence
Correlation Functions
Wilson Loops
Theories at Finite Temperature
Black Holes and the Phases of Brane Thermodynamics	117	(30)
Emil J. Martinec
Introduction
Branes and Black Holes
DP-Brane Examples
The D1-D5 System and Phases of `Little String' Theory
Concluding Remarks
Non-BPS-D-Brane Systems	147	(40)
John H Schwarz
Introduction
Review of Basics
D-Brane Anti-D-Brane Systems
K-Theory Classification of D-Branes
Moduli Spaces of Theories with 16 Supercharges
Non-BPS D-Branes in Type I
Concluding Remarks
Non-BPS States and Branes in String Theory	187	(48)
Ashoke Sen
Introduction
Unstable Non-BPS D-Branes in Type II String Theories
Stable Non-BPS D-Branes on Type II Orbifolds and Orientifolds
D-Branes as Tachyonic Kink Solutions
Stable Non-BPS Branes on the D-Brane -- Orientifold Plane System
Some Related Developments
Appendix: Conformal Field Theory of the Tachyonic Kink Solution
Lectures on Superconformal Quantum Mechanics and Multi-Black Hole Moduli Spaces	235	(30)
Ruth Britto-Pacumio
Jeremy Michelson
Andrew Strominger
Anastasia Volovich
A Simple Example of Conformal Quantum Mechanics
Conformally Invariant N-Particle Quantum Mechanics
Superconformal Quantum Mechanics
The Quantum Mechanics of a Test Particle in a Reissner-Nordstrom Background
Quantum Mechanics on the Black Hole Moduli Space
Discussion
Appendix: Differential Geometry with Torsion
Brane Theory Solitons	265	(34)
Paul K. Townsend
Preamble
Field Theory VS Brane Theory
Sigma-Model Solitons on Branes
Solitons and Kahler Calibrations
Beyond Field Theory
The Brane World
Gong Show
D-Branestrahlung	299	(6)
Mohab Abou-Zeid
Miguel S. Costa
Strings on BTZ Black Holes	305	(4)
Riccardo Argurio
A Note on non-supersymmetric Open-String Orbifolds with a quantised Bab	309	(4)
Carlo Angelantonj
On the Non-Abelian Born-Infeld Action	313	(6)
Pascal Bain
AdS3 asymptotic (super)Symmetries	319	(4)
Karin Bautier
Anomalous couplings of Non-BPS D-Branes	323	(4)
Marco Billo
Ben Craps
Frederik Roose
From a Conformal Anomaly to a Theory of Tensionless Strings?	327	(4)
Richard A. Corrado
Comments on non-supersymmetric type I vacua	331	(4)
Kristin Forger
S-Matrices for Planckian Scattering	335	(4)
Sebastian de Haro
K-Theory and D-Branes on NON-Commutative Tori	339	(4)
Sergei Gukov
Generalized Calibrations	343	(4)
Jan Gutowski
Aspects of Heterotic/M-Theory Duality in D=3	347	(6)
Michael Haack
Jan Louis
Gauge Theory scattering from the ADS/CFT correspondence	353	(4)
Romuald A. Janik
Flat Connections for Yang-Mills Theories on the 3-Torus	357	(4)
Arjan Keurentjes
From Topological Field Theories to Covariant Matrix Strings	361	(6)
Laurent Baulieu
Celine Laroche
Nikita Nekrasov
Field Theory Duals from (Non)-Crital Type 0 Strings	367	(6)
Daro Martelli
Duality and Selfduality of Chiral Boson Fields in various Dimensions	373	(6)
Alexey Maznytsia
Christian R. Preitschopf
Dmitri Sorokin
Anti-de Sitter Fragmentation	379	(4)
Jeremy Michelson
On ADS3 String Theory	383	(6)
P. Marios Petropoulos
Spectrum of D= 11 Supergravity on ADS2 x S2 x T7	389	(4)
Sangmin Lee
Discrete U-duality groups	393	(4)
Germar Schroder
Supersymmetric Worldvolume Solitons	397	(4)
Joan Simon
WZ Couplings of D-Branes and O-Planes	401	(4)
Bogdan Stefanski, jr.
Holography for Coset Spaces	405	(4)
Anastasia Volovich
Appendix	409	(2)
List of Speakers	411	(2)
List of Participants	413