An Introduction to String Theory and D-brane Dynamics: With Problems and Solutions, Second Edition

This invaluable book provides a quick introduction to the rudiments of perturbative string theory and a detailed introduction to the more current topic of D-brane dynamics. The presentation is very pedagogical, with much of the technical detail streamlined. The rapid but highly coherent introduction to the subject is perhaps what distinguishes this book from other string theory or D-brane books. This second edition includes an additional appendix with solutions to the exercises, thus expanding on some of the technical material and making the book more appealing for use in lecture courses. The material is based on mini-courses in theoretical high energy physics delivered by the author at various summer schools, so its actual level has been appropriately tested. Ch. 1. A brief history of string theory -- ch. 2. Classical string theory. 2.1. The relativistic particle. 2.2. The Bosonic string. 2.3. String equations of motion -- ch. 3. Quantization of the Bosonic string. 3.1. Canonical quantization. 3.2. The physical string spectrum. 3.3. Vertex operators. 3.4. String perturbation theory. 3.5. Chan-Paton factors -- ch. 4. Superstrings. 4.1. Motivation. 4.2. The RNS superstring. 4.3. The superstring spectrum. 4.4. The GSO projection. 4.5. Example : One-loop vacuum amplitude -- ch. 5. Ramond-Ramond charges and T-duality. 5.1. Ramond-Ramond charges. 5.2. T-duality for closed strings. 5.3. T-duality for open strings. 5.4. T-duality for type II superstrings -- ch. 6. D-branes and gauge theory. 6.1. D-branes. 6.2. Wilson lines. 6.3. Collective coordinates for D-branes. 6.4. The Born-Infeld action -- ch. 7. D-brane dynamics. 7.1. The Dirac-Born-Infeld action. 7.2. Supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory. 7.3. Forces between D-branes -- ch. 8. Ramond-Ramond couplings of D-branes. 8.1. D-brane anomalies. 8.2. Chern-Simons actions. 8.3. Branes within branes -- ch. 9. Solutions to exercises A Brief History Of String Theory -- Classical String Theory -- Quantization Of The Bosonic String -- Superstrings -- Ramond-ramond Charges And T-duality -- D-branes And Gauge Theory -- D-brane Dynamics -- Ramond-ramond Couplings Of D-branes -- Solutions To Exercises. Richard J. Szabo. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 141-144) And Index. Offers an introduction to the rudiments of perturbative string theory and D-brane dynamics. This book features an appendix with solutions to the exercises.