Introduction to superstrings and M-theory.

Publication date 7 February 1999

Published in Graduate Texts in Contemporary Physics (Search for Journal in Brave)

Kac-Moody (super)algebras; extended affine Lie algebras; toroidal Lie algebras (17B67) Introductory exposition (textbooks, tutorial papers, etc.) pertaining to global analysis (58-01) Applications of manifolds of mappings to the sciences (58D30) Introductory exposition (textbooks, tutorial papers, etc.) pertaining to quantum theory (81-01) Infinite-dimensional groups and algebras motivated by physics, including Virasoro, Kac-Moody, (W)-algebras and other current algebras and their representations (81R10) Path integrals in quantum mechanics (81S40) Constructive quantum field theory (81T08) String and superstring theories; other extended objects (e.g., branes) in quantum field theory (81T30) Two-dimensional field theories, conformal field theories, etc. in quantum mechanics (81T40) Anomalies in quantum field theory (81T50) Supersymmetric field theories in quantum mechanics (81T60) Quantization in field theory; cohomological methods (81T70) Black holes (83C57) String and superstring theories in gravitational theory (83E30)

Review text

For a review of the first ed. (Springer 1988) see Zbl 0655.58001. The book presents a systematic overview of modern (super)string theory written in a clear language on student level (familiarity with quantum mechanics is needed, while other advanced concepts such as Lie groups, general relativity, supersymmetry and supergravity are briefly introduced in the Appendix). Three themes have been stressed throughout the book: path integrals, second quantization and duality. Also the latest developments in superstring theory including string field theory, conformal field theory, Calabi-Yau phenomenology and M-theory are introduced to stimulate independent theoretical research. The book consists of four parts devoted to first quantization, second quantization, phenomenology and M-theory, correspondingly, and an Appendix. Part I begins with a review on path integrals and point particle theories, gauge invariance and Faddeev-Popov quantization. Chapters 2 and 3 can be viewed as a rather complete introduction to strings and superstrings respectively. For bosonic strings the construction of the action as a two-dimensional surface, equations of motion and constraints are given in detail. The correspondence between point particle and string theory is emphasized and represented as a transition: \[ \text{Graphs}\rightarrow\text{Manifolds}. \] Then the general strategy in quantization of the string is explained as: \[ \text{Action}\rightarrow\text{Symmetry}\rightarrow\text{Current}\rightarrow\text{Algebra}\rightarrow\text{Constraints}\rightarrow\text{Unitarity}. \] Three quantization procedures are developed thoroughly: Gupta-Bleuler, light cone and BRST formalisms. Connection between the path integral and harmonic oscillator operator formalisms in \(N\)-point scattering amplitude calculations is shown and ghost elimination is proved. In Chapter 3 global and local 2D worldsheet supersymmetries are described, and the Neveu-Schwarz and Ramond (NS-R) models are discussed and quantized using the three above formalisms along the general strategy of quantization. Next the Green-Schwarz (GS) action with manifest space-time supersymmetry is investigated and quantized, and its equivalence to the Gliozzi-Scherk-Olive (GSO) projected NS-R action is shown. The dynamic link between the two formalisms is given in Chapter 4 by using the Friedan-Shenker conformal field theory which allows to calculate matrix elements from the conformal properties of fields themselves. Then superconformal invariance and superconformal field theory together with spin fields and superconformal ghosts are considered and properties of Kac-Moody algebras are derived. Chapter 5 is devoted to the calculation of single- and multiloop diagrams to obtain open and closed string and superstring (NS-R and GS) amplitudes. To derive multiloop amplitudes four parametrizations of Riemann surfaces are used: Schottky groups, constant curvature, theta functions and light cone formalism. The connection between the moduli (Teichmüller) space and Grassmannians is established. String field theory is formulated in Part II. The light cone formalism, Neumann function method and superstring field theory are discussed in Chapter 6. Next, a covariant string field theory using Faddeev-Popov ghosts and BRST approach is developed in Chapter 7. Several correct ``ghost counting procedures which use the truncating of the theory are considered for closed strings and superstrings. In Part III it is analyzed, how the string theory is compatible with the results of the standard GUT theory and it is shown, how the experimental consequences of classical string theory produce new phenomenology beyond GUTs. Multilateral discussion of anomalies in connection with the Chan-Paton factors, Atiyah-Singer theorem, and characteristic classes is provided in Chapter 8. Full cancellation of all anomalies forces the gauge group to be \(O\left( 32\right) \) or \(E_{8}\otimes E_{8}\). To obtain a realistic four-dimensional theory from 26D string theory or 10D superstring theory the compactification formalism is introduced in Chapter 9. The heterotic string, a closed string in which left- and right-moving sectors are compactified separately in a different manner, has an explicit space-time symmetry and a rich spectrum which is \(E_{8}\otimes E_{8}\) invariant as is shown using the technique of Kac-Moody algebras. Then their covariant and fermionic formulations, trees, single-loop amplitudes and anomalies are described and self-dual Lorenzian lattices are also discussed. Chapter 10 presents another approach to obtain reasonable phenomenology: Calabi-Yau six-dimensional manifolds and orbifolds as compactified spaces. Kähler manifolds, de Rham cohomology, homology and Betti numbers are reviewed. The condition of \(N=1\) supersymmetry implies the condition on 6D compactified space: \[ N=1 \text{supersymmetry}\rightarrow\text{covariant constant spinor}\rightarrow\text{Kähler, Ricci flat SU(3) holonomy}. \] Then symmetry breakdown of \(E_{8}\) including embedding the spin connection, calculation of fermion generation number from pure topological arguments and Wilson lines leading to many additional \(U(1)\) factors is discussed. Part IV was added in the second edition and covers the latest developments of nonperturbative string theory: M-theory, duality, P- and D-branes, matrix models and black holes. In Chapter 11 a detailed description of S-, T-, U-dualities and the relation between five superstring theories is given. Chapter 12 deals with BPS saturated states leading to powerful relationships between masses and the charges due to Bogomol'nyi bound. General consideration of P-branes and many interesting examples, as well as tensionless strings and F-theory are given. In the last chapter soliton-like solutions -- D-branes -- are considered and supersymmetric actions are constructed for different cases. Also infinite momentum limit of M-theory, Dirichlet branes and thermodynamics of black holes in many configurations are considered. This part of the book can be considered as a useful guide for further original research and new investigations.

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