String theory. Volume II: Superstring theory and beyond. (English) Zbl 1006.81522

Polchinski, Joseph

Cambridge Monographs on Mathematical Physics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. xix, 531 p. £35.00; £65.00, $ 104.00 /2 vol. set (1998).

Publisher’s description: Volume 2, Superstring Theory and Beyond, begins with an introduction to supersymmetric string theories and goes on to a broad presentation of 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. A following chapter collects many classic results in conformal field theory. The final four chapters are concerned with four-dimensional string theories, and have two goals: to show how some of the simplest string models connect with previous ideas for unifying the Standard Model; and to collect many important and beautiful general results on world-sheet and spacetime symmetries. An appendix summarizes the necessary background on fermions and supersymmetry.

MSC:

81T30	String and superstring theories; other extended objects (e.g., branes) in quantum field theory
81-01	Introductory exposition (textbooks, tutorial papers, etc.) pertaining to quantum theory
81-02	Research exposition (monographs, survey articles) pertaining to quantum theory
83E30	String and superstring theories in gravitational theory

Citations:

Zbl 1006.81521