course dates credits
String Theory Jan 9 - Mar 14 9
teachers schedule term
Alberto Lerda 11:30 - 13:00 2

Program:

  • Introduction: string theory vs field theory
  • Bosonic string: classical theory, symmetries, and constraints
  • Bosonic string: old covariant quantization, light-cone quantization, BRST quantization
  • Bosonic string: physical spectrum for open and closed strings
  • Review of 2d conformal field theories and boundary conformal field theories.
  • Bosonic string: physical spectrum, vertex operators
  • Bosonic string: toroidal compactifications, T-duality, orbifolds, and D-branes
  • Bosonic string: tree and one-loop amplitudes, effective actions and field-theory limit
  • Consistent superstring theories in 10d: the RNS formalism, GSO projection, partition functions and modular invariance
  • Supersymmetric strings: BRST quantization, picture changing and tree-level amplitudes
  • Supersymmetric strings: low-energy effective theories and anomaly cancellation
  • Supersymmetric strings: T-duality, S-duality, D-branes and their bound states
  • (if time permits) Gauge and gravitational amplitudes from string theory (double copy, KLT, etc)

    Prerequisites:

    Books:

    J.Polchinski, "String Theory", vol. I, vol. II
    M. Green, J. Schwarz and E. Witten, "Superstring theory", vol. I, vol. II
    R. Blumenhagen , D. Lüst , S. Theisen, "Basic Concepts of String Theory"

    Online Resources:

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