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String Theory, Vol. 1 (Cambridge Monographs on Mathematical Physics): An Introduction to the Bosonic String

String Theory, Vol. 1 (Cambridge Monographs on Mathematical Physics): An Introduction to the Bosonic String

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Joseph Polchinski
Cambridge University Press
Edition: Pbk. Ed, 6/20/2005
EAN 9780521672276, ISBN10: 0521672279

Paperback, 424 pages, 24.9 x 17.5 x 2.3 cm
Language: English
Originally published in English

String Theory comprises two volumes which give a comprehensive and pedagogic account of the subject. Volume 1, first published in 1998, provides a thorough introduction to the bosonic string. The first four chapters introduce the central ideas of string theory, the tools of conformal field theory and of the Polyakov path integral, and the covariant quantization of the string. The next three chapters treat string interactions: the general formalism, and detailed treatments of the tree level and one loop amplitudes. Chapter eight covers toroidal compactification and many important aspects of string physics, such as T-duality and D-branes. Chapter nine treats higher-order amplitudes, including an analysis of their finiteness and unitarity, and various nonperturbative ideas. An appendix giving a short course on path integral methods is included. This is an essential text and reference for graduate students and researchers interested in modern superstring theory.

Foreword
Preface
Notation
1. A first look at strings
2. Conformal field theory
3. The Polyakov path integral
4. The string spectrum
5. The string S-matrix
6. Tree-level amplitudes
7. One-loop amplitudes
8. Toroidal compactification and T-duality
9. Higher order amplitudes
Appendix A
a short course on path integrals
References
Glossary
Index.

'... this is an impressive book. It is notable for its consistent line of development and the clarity and insight with which topics are treated ... It is hard to think of a better text in an advanced graduate area, and it is rare to have one written by a master of the subject. It is worth pointing out that the book also contains a collection of useful problems, a glossary, and an unusually complete index.' Physics Today