Introduction to String Theory (HS11)

Description

String theory is an attempt to quantise gravity and unite it with the other fundamental forces of nature. It combines many interesting topics of (quantum) field theory in two and higher dimensions. This course gives an introduction to the basics of string theory.

Content

1. Introduction
2. Relativistic Point Particle
3. Classical Bosonic String
4. String Quantisation
5. Compactification
6. Open Strings and D-Branes
7. Conformal Field Theory
8. String Scattering
9. String Backgrounds
10. Superstrings
11. AdS/CFT Correspondence

Literature

• D. Tong, String Theory, lecture notes.
• B. Zwiebach, A First Course in String Theory, CUP (2004).
• M.B. Green, J.H. Schwarz, E. Witten, Superstring Theory I, CUP (1987).
• J. Polchinski, String Theory I & II, CUP (1998).
• D. Lüst, S. Theisen, Lectures on String Theory, Lecture Notes in Physics, Springer (1989).
• K. Becker, M. Becker, J.H. Schwarz, String Theory and M-Theory: A Modern Introduction, CUP (2007).

Credit Requirements

• 8 problem sets handed in with 50% of problems on each sheet worked out in reasonable quality.
• 1 problem solution presented at black board.
• 20 minute oral examination.
  

Materials

Combined Lecture Notes and Problem Sets (PDF, 2.88 MB)

Lecture Notes

• Chapter 0: Overview (PDF, 54 kB)
• Chapter 1: Introduction (PDF, 247 kB)
• Chapter 2: Relativistic Point Particle (PDF, 203 kB)
• Chapter 3: Classical Bosonic String (PDF, 320 kB)
• Chapter 4: String Quantisation (PDF, 237 kB)
• Chapter 5: Compactification (PDF, 200 kB)
• Chapter 6: Open Strings and D-Branes (PDF, 332 kB)
• Chapter 7: Conformal Field Theory (PDF, 194 kB)
• Chapter 8: String Scattering (PDF, 232 kB)
• Chapter 9: String Backgrounds (PDF, 217 kB)
• Chapter 10: Superstrings (PDF, 177 kB)
• Chapter 11: AdS/CFT Correspondence (PDF, 188 kB)

Problem Sets

• Problem Set 1 (20.9.) (PDF, 134 kB)
• Problem Set 2 (27.9.) (PDF, 125 kB)
• Problem Set 3 (4.10.) (PDF, 154 kB)
• Problem Set 4 (11.10.) (PDF, 158 kB)
• Problem Set 5 (25.10.) (PDF, 115 kB)
• Problem Set 6 (1.11.) (PDF, 135 kB)
• Problem Set 7 (8.11.) (PDF, 134 kB)
• Problem Set 8 (15.11.) (PDF, 128 kB)
• Problem Set 9 (22.11.) (PDF, 163 kB)
• Problem Set 10 (29.11.) (PDF, 137 kB)
• Problem Set 11 (6.12.) (PDF, 109 kB)
• Problem Set 12 (13.12.) (PDF, 112 kB)