Introduction to string theory

Quantum field theory and the path integral......Page 4 Elementary interactions and their theories......Page 6 Actions......Page 10 Solutions using boundary conditions......Page 11 Quantization......Page 12 Open string......Page 14 Closed strings......Page 16 Charges......Page 17 Amplitudes from surfaces......Page 19 Example of the torus......Page 22 Modular transformations......Page 24 Vertex operators......Page 26 Effective actions......Page 27 Strings in curved backgrounds......Page 28 Coupling constants and frames......Page 29 Open strings......Page 31 Action......Page 32 R and NS boundary conditions......Page 33 Quantization......Page 34 Open string modes and the GSO projection......Page 36 Closed string modes......Page 37 Heterotic string theories......Page 40 Summary of the 5 theories......Page 41 The list of supergravity theories.......Page 43 Dimensional reduction......Page 44 Exchanging winding and momenta modes......Page 45 Dimensional reduction in spacetime of the NS-NS sector......Page 47 T-duality induces D8 branes......Page 48 Charged strings......Page 50 Dp-branes......Page 51 S-duality......Page 53 Self-duality in IIB......Page 54 type I - SO(32) heterotic......Page 55 M-theory and Branes......Page 56 Supersymmetry algebras......Page 57 BPS Black holes......Page 58 Brane solutions......Page 60 Tensions and charges......Page 62 Dirac charge quantization......Page 63 Strong coupling of IIA superstrings......Page 65 M-branes......Page 66 The theory currently known as M......Page 67 Compactifications......Page 69 Calabi-Yau manifolds......Page 70 Black hole entropy......Page 71 AdS/CFT......Page 72 Some final remarks......Page 74 Resources for popular introductions, these lectures and further study......Page 75