String Theory and M-Theory
A Modern Introduction

Graduate textbook for courses in string theory.

Katrin Becker (Author), Melanie Becker (Author), John H. Schwarz (Author)

9780521860697, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 7 December 2006

756 pages, 75 b/w illus. 337 exercises
25.4 x 18.2 x 3.7 cm, 1.2 kg

'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 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.

1. Introduction
2. The bosonic string
3. Conformal field theory and string interactions
4. Strings with world-sheet supersymmetry
5. Strings with space-time supersymmetry
6. T-duality and D-branes
7. The heterotic string
8. M-theory and string duality
9. String geometry
10. Flux compactifications
11. Black holes in string theory
12. Gauge theory/string theory dualities
References
Index.

Subject Areas: Particle & high-energy physics [PHP], Physics [PH]