String Theory: Volume 2, Superstring Theory and Beyond
Superstring Theory and Beyond
Published on 2. June 2005
Book
Paperback/Softback
552 pages
978-0-521-67228-3 (ISBN)
Description
String Theory, first published in 1998, comprises two volumes which provide a comprehensive and pedagogic account of the subject. Volume 2 begins with an introduction to supersymmetric string theories and presents the important advances of recent years. The first three chapters introduce the type I, type II, and heterototic superstring theories and their interactions. The next two chapters present important recent discoveries about strongly coupled strings, beginning with a detailed treatment of D-branes and their dynamics, and covering string duality, M-theory, and black hole entropy. The final chapters are concerned with four-dimensional string theories, showing how some of the simplest string models connect with previous ideas for unifying the Standard Model. They collect many important results on world-sheet and spacetime symmetries. An appendix summarizes the necessary background on fermions and supersymmetry. An essential text and reference for graduate students and researchers interested in superstring theory.
Reviews / Votes
'In summary, these volumes will provide ... the standard text and reference for students and researchers in particle physics and relativity interested in the possible ramifications of modern superstring theory.' Allen C. Hirshfeld, General Relativity and Gravitation 'Polchinski is a major contributor to the exciting developments that have revolutionised our understanding of string theory during the past four years; he is also an exemplary teacher, as Steven Weinberg attests in his foreword. He has produced an outstanding two-volume text, with numerous exercises accompanying each chapter. It is destined to become a classic ... magnificent.' David Bailin, The Times Higher Education Supplement 'The present volume succeeds in giving a detailed yet comprehensive account of our current knowledge of superstring dynamics. The topics covered range from the basic construction of the theories to the most recent discoveries on their non-perturbative behaviour. The discussion is remarkably self-contained (the volume even contains a useful appendix on spinors and supersymmetry in several dimensions), and thus may serve as an introduction to the subject, and as an excellent reference for researchers in the field.' Mathematical ReviewsMore details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
Worked examples or Exercises; 12 Tables, unspecified; 15 Line drawings, unspecified
Dimensions
Height: 244 mm
Width: 170 mm
Thickness: 30 mm
Weight
941 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-521-67228-3 (9780521672283)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Joseph Polchinski
String Theory: Volume 2, Superstring Theory and Beyond
E-Book
12/2007
1st Edition
Cambridge University Press
€58.99
Available for download
Person
Content
Foreword; Preface; Notation; 10. Type I and type II superstrings; 11. The heterotic string; 12. Superstring interactions; 13. D-branes; 14. Strings at strong coupling; 15. Advanced CFT; 16. Orbifolds; 17. Calabi-Yau compactification; 18. Physics in four dimensions; 19. Advanced topics; Appendix B. Spinors and SUSY in various dimensions; References; Glossary; Index.