Introduction to Strings and Branes

The course is an introduction to the theory of strings/superstrings and their interactions. It will be focused on perturbative and

non-perturbative spectrum of string theory. It is aimed at

students interested at particle physics and unification.

1. Introduction: strings and unification of fundamental interactions

2. Classical theory of free strings

3. Canonical quantization of strings: conformal symmetry, spectrum, states

of D-branes.

4. Interaction of strings: string diagrams, effective field theory,

Einstein theory, Yang-Mills theory.

5. D-branes: brane excitations, effective field theory description, DBI

action

6. Multi-brane states, non-abelian gauge theory of branes.

Purpose of the lecture: String theory is considered as the most promising

candidate for theory which unifies electromagnetic, weak, strong and

grawitational interactions.

The purpose of the lecture is to describe the perturbative and

non-perturbative spectrum

of the theory and to introduce interactions between these states.

Prerequisites: Classical Mechanics, Quantum mechanics I and II.

- M.Green, J.Schwarz, E.Witten, Superstring Theory.

- J.Polchinski, String Theory.

- B.Zweibach, A First Course in String Theory

After the lecture students should have basics knowledge of string theory and its relation to particle physics. Students should also understand basic notions

of modern superstring theory such as: branes, vertex operators, NS sector, R sector.

The course will end by oral exam. Understanding of basic concepts as well as basic calculational method of string theory will be examined.