A first course in string theory

B. Zwiebach

Cambridge University Press, 2004 - Science - 558 pages

An accessible introduction to string theory, this book provides a detailed and self-contained demonstration of the main concepts involved. The first part deals with basic ideas, reviewing special relativity and electromagnetism while introducing the concept of extra dimensions. D-branes and the classical dynamics of relativistic strings are discussed next, and the quantization of open and closed bosonic strings in the light-cone gauge, along with a brief introduction to superstrings. The second part begins with a detailed study of D-branes followed by string thermodynamics. It discusses possible physical applications, and covers T-duality of open and closed strings, electromagnetic fields on D-branes, Born/Infeld electrodynamics, covariant string quantization and string interactions. Primarily aimed as a textbook for advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate courses, it will also be ideal for a wide range of scientists and mathematicians who are curious about string theory.

What people are saying

Review: A First Course in String Theory

User Review  - Dallas - Goodreads

Zwiebach's descriptions are concise and backed up by tonnes of detail. This is the kind of book that gets me to say things like; oh hell yeah, String Theory! As for the mathematical difficulty ...

Review: A First Course in String Theory

User Review  - Phillip Cox - Goodreads

ack... I felt like Bill the Cat...

Contents

• Special relativity and extra dimensions: 12
• Electromagnetism and gravitation in various dimensions: 40
• l0 Large extra dimensions: 61
• The relativistic point particle: 78
• Problems: 87
• String parameterization and classical motion: 116
• Worldsheet currents: 132
• Lightcone relativistic strings: 149
• l0 Lightcone fields and particles: 166
• Quantum scalar fields and particle states: 172
• Gravitational fields and graviton states: 180
• The relativistic quantum point particle: 187
• Lightcone momentum generators: 197
• l2 Relativistic quantum open strings: 206
• l23 Strings as harmonic oscillators: 215
• Lorentz generators: 229
• Equations of motion: 236
• l3 Relativistic quantum closed strings: 247
• Closed string Virasoro operators: 253
• String coupling and the dilaton: 260
• l4 lbranes and gauge fields: 275
• l5 String charge electric charge and particle physics: 307
• Visualizing string charge: 313
• Dbrane charges: 321
• Open strings and the Standard Model fermions: 328
• The Standard Model on intersecting D6branes: 337
• String theory and particle physics: 344
• l6 String thermodynamics and black holes: 352
• Hagedorn temperature: 361
• Black holes and entropy: 368
• A string theorygauge theory correspondence: 377
• l7 Tduality of closed strings: 386
• Quantization and the double strike: 393
• A striking spectrum coincidence: 401
• l8 Tduality of open strings: 410
• Wilson lines on circles: 420
• Dbranes with electric fields: 428
• Nonlinear and BornInfeld electrodynamics: 442
• 2I Covariant string quantization: 459
• Lorentz covariant state space: 468
• String interactions and Riemann surfaces: 481
• Loop amplitudes in string theory: 518
• Problems: 536
• References: 547

Bibliographic information

• Title: A first course in string theory
• Author: B. Zwiebach
• Edition: illustrated, reprint
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2004
• ISBN: 0521831431, 9780521831437
• Length: 558 pages
• Subjects: SCIENCE / Waves & Wave Mechanics; Science / Physics / Mathematical & Computational