Progress in String, Field and Particle Theory

Progress in String, Field and Particle Theory
Author: L. Baulieu
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 513
Release: 2012-12-06
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9401002118

The NATO Advanced Study Institute and EC Summer School "Progress in String Field and Particle Theory" was held in Cargse from June 25th till July 11th 2002. The main focus of the school was the recent progress in the very ac tive areas of superstring theory, quantum gravity and the theory of elementary particles. It covered topical problems in domains such as duality between gravity and gaugeinteractions, string field theory, tachyon condensation, non-commutative field theory, string cosmology and string phenomenology. The School featured daily introductory lectures and topical seminars. An informal Gong Show session allowed young post-doctoral researchers and senior graduate students to make a concise presentation oftheir current work. The School gave an excellent opportunity to the youngest researchers to establish a close relationship with their seniors and with the lecturers. These proceedings will further serve in fixing the acquired knowledge, and hopefully, become a useful reference for anyone working in this fascinating do main of physics. Some of the contributions provide an elementary introduction to their subject, while other ones are more geared to the specialist. We are deeply indebted to the NATO Division for Scientific Affairs for funding, and for their constant attention for our meetings, and to the European Commission for a High-Level Scientific Conference grant HPCFCT 2001-00298.

A Brief History of String Theory

A Brief History of String Theory
Author: Dean Rickles
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 265
Release: 2014-02-18
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3642451284

During its forty year lifespan, string theory has always had the power to divide, being called both a 'theory of everything' and a 'theory of nothing'. Critics have even questioned whether it qualifies as a scientific theory at all. This book adopts an objective stance, standing back from the question of the truth or falsity of string theory and instead focusing on how it came to be and how it came to occupy its present position in physics. An unexpectedly rich history is revealed, with deep connections to our most well-established physical theories. Fully self-contained and written in a lively fashion, the book will appeal to a wide variety of readers from novice to specialist.

String Theory and M-Theory

String Theory and M-Theory
Author: Katrin Becker
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 756
Release: 2006-12-07
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9780521860697

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.

Not Even Wrong

Not Even Wrong
Author: Peter Woit
Publisher: Basic Books
Total Pages: 336
Release: 2007-03-09
Genre: Science
ISBN: 046500363X

At what point does theory depart the realm of testable hypothesis and come to resemble something like aesthetic speculation, or even theology? The legendary physicist Wolfgang Pauli had a phrase for such ideas: He would describe them as "not even wrong," meaning that they were so incomplete that they could not even be used to make predictions to compare with observations to see whether they were wrong or not. In Peter Woit's view, superstring theory is just such an idea. In Not Even Wrong , he shows that what many physicists call superstring "theory" is not a theory at all. It makes no predictions, even wrong ones, and this very lack of falsifiability is what has allowed the subject to survive and flourish. Not Even Wrong explains why the mathematical conditions for progress in physics are entirely absent from superstring theory today and shows that judgments about scientific statements, which should be based on the logical consistency of argument and experimental evidence, are instead based on the eminence of those claiming to know the truth. In the face of many books from enthusiasts for string theory, this book presents the other side of the story.

Why String Theory?

Why String Theory?
Author: Joseph Conlon
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 256
Release: 2016-08-19
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN: 1482242494

Physics World's 'Book of the Year' for 2016 An Entertaining and Enlightening Guide to the Who, What, and Why of String Theory, now also available in an updated reflowable electronic format compatible with mobile devices and e-readers. During the last 50 years, numerous physicists have tried to unravel the secrets of string theory. Yet why do these scientists work on a theory lacking experimental confirmation? Why String Theory? provides the answer, offering a highly readable and accessible panorama of the who, what, and why of this large aspect of modern theoretical physics. The author, a theoretical physics professor at the University of Oxford and a leading string theorist, explains what string theory is and where it originated. He describes how string theory fits into physics and why so many physicists and mathematicians find it appealing when working on topics from M-theory to monsters and from cosmology to superconductors.

Progress In String Theory: Tasi 2003 Lecture Notes

Progress In String Theory: Tasi 2003 Lecture Notes
Author: Juan M Maldacena
Publisher: World Scientific
Total Pages: 571
Release: 2005-07-12
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9814479845

Intended mainly for advanced graduate students in theoretical physics, this comprehensive volume covers recent advances in string theory and field theory dualities. It is based on the annual lectures given at the School of the Theoretical Advanced Study Institute (2003) a traditional event that brings together graduate students in high energy physics for an intensive course given by leaders in their fields.The first lecture by Paul Aspinwall is a description of branes in Calabi-Yau manifolds, which includes an introduction to the modern ideas of derived categories and their relation to D-branes. Juan Maldacena's second lecture is a short introduction to the AdS/CFT correspondence with a short discussion on its plane wave limit. Tachyon condensation for open strings is discussed in the third lecture by Ashoke Sen while Eva Silverstein provides a useful summary of the various attempts to produce four-dimensional physics out of string theory and M-theory in the fourth lecture. Matthew Strassler's fifth lecture is a careful discussion of a theory that has played a very important role in recent developments in string theory — a quantum field theory that produces a duality cascade which also has a large N gravity description. The sixth lecture by Washington Taylor explains how to perform perturbative computations using string field theory.The written presentation of these lectures is detailed yet straightforward, and they will be of great use to both students and experienced researchers in high energy theoretical physics.

The Emergence of Spacetime in String Theory

The Emergence of Spacetime in String Theory
Author: Tiziana Vistarini
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 241
Release: 2019-06-12
Genre: Philosophy
ISBN: 1134842406

The nature of space and time is one of the most fascinating and fundamental philosophical issues which presently engages at the deepest level with physics. During the last thirty years this notion has been object of an intense critical review in the light of new scientific theories which try to combine the principles of both general relativity and quantum theory—called theories of quantum gravity. This book considers the way string theory shapes its own account of spacetime disappearance from the fundamental level.

String Theory and the Scientific Method

String Theory and the Scientific Method
Author: Richard Dawid
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 213
Release: 2013-05-02
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1107067588

String theory has played a highly influential role in theoretical physics for nearly three decades and has substantially altered our view of the elementary building principles of the Universe. However, the theory remains empirically unconfirmed, and is expected to remain so for the foreseeable future. So why do string theorists have such a strong belief in their theory? This book explores this question, offering a novel insight into the nature of theory assessment itself. Dawid approaches the topic from a unique position, having extensive experience in both philosophy and high-energy physics. He argues that string theory is just the most conspicuous example of a number of theories in high-energy physics where non-empirical theory assessment has an important part to play. Aimed at physicists and philosophers of science, the book does not use mathematical formalism and explains most technical terms.

String Theory For Dummies

String Theory For Dummies
Author: Andrew Zimmerman Jones
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 387
Release: 2009-11-16
Genre: Science
ISBN: 047046724X

A clear, plain-English guide to this complex scientific theory String theory is the hottest topic in physics right now, with books on the subject (pro and con) flying out of the stores. String Theory For Dummies offers an accessible introduction to this highly mathematical "theory of everything," which posits ten or more dimensions in an attempt to explain the basic nature of matter and energy. Written for both students and people interested in science, this guide explains concepts, discusses the string theory's hypotheses and predictions, and presents the math in an approachable manner. It features in-depth examples and an easy-to-understand style so that readers can understand this controversial, cutting-edge theory.