Superstring Theory: 25th Anniversary Edition (Cambridge Monographs on Mathematical Physics) (Volume 1) Anniversary edition Edition

by Michael B. Green (Author), John H. Schwarz (Author), Edward Witten (Author)

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ISBN-13: 978-1107029118

ISBN-10: 0521114381

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Twenty-five years ago, Michael Green, John Schwarz, and Edward Witten wrote two volumes on string theory. Published during a period of rapid progress in this subject, these volumes were highly influential for a generation of students and researchers. Despite the immense progress that has been made in the field since then, the systematic exposition of the foundations of superstring theory presented in these volumes is just as relevant today as when first published. A self-contained introduction to superstrings, Volume 1 begins with an elementary treatment of the bosonic string, before describing the incorporation of additional degrees of freedom: fermionic degrees of freedom leading to supersymmetry and internal quantum numbers leading to gauge interactions. A detailed discussion of the evaluation of tree-approximation scattering amplitudes is also given. Featuring a new Preface setting the work in context in light of recent advances, this book is invaluable for graduate students and researchers in general relativity and elementary particle theory.

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"... these books still belong on the essential reading list for anyone wanting to gain a deep understanding of the subject."
Douglas J. Smith, Mathematical Reviews

Book Description

Originally published at the height of the first revolution in string theory, these two volumes went on to define the field. Volume 1 provides a self-contained introduction to superstrings. Featuring a new preface, this book is invaluable for graduate students and researchers in general relativity and elementary particle theory.

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Product details

Series: Cambridge Monographs on Mathematical Physics
Hardcover: 482 pages
Publisher: Cambridge University Press; Anniversary edition edition (November 12, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0521114381
ISBN-13: 978-1107029118
ASIN: 1107029112
Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 1.2 x 9.1 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 5 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,934,781 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1373 in Mathematical Physics (Books)
- #4386 in Physics (Books)
- #289 in Particle Physics

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Four Stars

March 15, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This is a great book, and the costumer service is very good.

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romel79

Five Stars

September 20, 2017

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Very good condition

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Dean Welch

Classic Introduction

March 26, 2006

Format: Paperback

At one time volumes I and II of "Superstring theory" would have been essential reading for serious students of string theory. However, the way we think of string theory today is very different from the way it was formulated in these classic texts. The core is still the same, but the advent of D-branes, various dualities and M-theory have radically changed the way we see string theory. This is not to mention all the other progress in string theory such as the extensive work on black hole physics. Still this book should not be missed.

Volume I stands on its own as an excellent introduction to superstring theory. However, other than showing general relativity appears in the low energy limit of string theory, potential observable consequences are mainly put off until volume II. Most of the arguments for the physical relevance of string theory are based on self-consistency and finiteness.

Following a historical tour of the origins of string theory as a dual model, the main topic is introduced, string theory as a candidate for the quantum theory of gravity and providing a grand unified field theory. The obvious question, what makes a theory based on one-dimensional objects is better than one based on zero-dimensional objects, is thoughtfully considered. Several arguments are given. The first chapter closes out with an overview of string interactions.

Starting with the simple physical idea that the action of a string is the area of the worldsheet, the authors develop bosonic string theory. Different approaches to quantizing strings in flat spacetime are presented with two of the main results being the calculation of the critical dimension and the central change.

The flat spacetime calculations are generalized to a curved spacetime. The low energy effective action is derived, with the amazing result that in this limit string theory reproduces general relativity. Conformal invariance clearly plays an important role throughout this, but general conformal field theory is never explicitly developed. I would have liked to seen is a more explicit treatment of general conformal field theory, but that's a matter of personal taste. All this is done in less than 200 pages!

The book then moves on to cover superstring theory. From this point on bosonic and superstrings are considered in parallel where appropriate. It starts off adding fermions onto the worldsheet. This theory is quantized in an approach that parallels that of the bosonic string (operator expansion, light-cone gauge, BRST). It then moves on to show the connection of worldsheet supersymmetry to spacetime supersymmetry.

The types of superstrings developed are Type I, Type IIA, Type IIB and heterotic (with various gauge symmetries). As a side note on perspective, these are described as different string theories, but the advent of M-theory they are currently seen as different solutions to one theory.

The book wraps up with very through calculations of tree level scattering amplitudes.

Undoubtedly this is an excellent book. The only questions are, "How well does it hold up, is it still essential reading"? It definitely holds up very well. I consider it essential reading, however I think the point could be argued. I doubt anybody would argue that people specializing in string theory would profit by reading it.

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Should still be required reading

May 31, 2003

Format: Paperback

Anyone interested in learning string theory could perhaps start with the current formulation involving D-branes and M theories. This is certainly possible and will lead one to the frontiers of research. However, it would not perhaps give one an appreciation of string theory that would be obtained by persuing a study that explains how it arose in the study of the strong interaction . This book, written by three giants in string theory, will give the reader such a study, and was the first book to appear on the subject. The book is a monograph, and not a textbook, since no exercises appear, but it could still serve as a reference and "required reading" for courses in string theory.
The learning of string theory can be a formidable undertaking for those who lack the mathematical background. Indeed, a proper understanding of string theory, not just a forma one, will require a solid understanding of algebraic and differential geometry, algebraic topology, and complex manifolds. There are many books on these subjects, but I do not know of one what will give the student of string theory an in-depth understanding of the relevant mathematics. These two volumes include two rather lengthy chapters on mathematics, one on differential geometry and the other on algebraic geometry. The mastery of these two chapter will give readers a formal understanding of the mathematics, and will allow them to perform calculations in string theory efficiently, but do not give the insight needed for extending its frontiers. There have been a few books published on string theory since these two volumes appeared, but they too fail in this regard (and some even admit to doing so). To gain the necessary insight into the mathematics will entail a very time-consuming search of the early literature and many face-to-face conversations with mathematicians. The "oral tradition" in mathematics is real and one must embed onself in it if a real, in-depth understanding of mathematics is sought.
The physics of string theory though is brought out with incredible skill by the authors, and the historical motivation given in the introduction is the finest in the literature. Now legendary, the origin of string theories in the dual models of the strong interaction is discussed in detail. The Veneziano model, as discussed in this part, has recently become important in purely mathematical contexts, as has most every other construction in string theory. The mathematical results that have arisen from string theory involves some of the most fascinating constructions in all of mathematics, and mathematicians interested in these will themselves be interested in perusing these volumes, but will of course find the approach mathematically non-rigorous.
Some of the other discussions that stand out in the book include: 1. The global aspects of the string world sheet and the origin of the moduli space, along with its connection to Teichmuller space. 2. The world-sheet supersymmetry and the origin of the integers 10 and 26 as being a critical dimension. In this discussion, the authors give valuable insight on a number of matters, one in particular being why the introduction of an anticommuting field mapping bosons to bosons and fermions to fermions does not violate the spin-statistics theorem. 3. The light-cone gauge quantization for superstrings. The authors show that the manifestly covariant formalism is equivalent to the light-cone formalism and is ghost-free in dimension 10. The light-cone gauge is used to quantize a covariant world-sheet action with space-time supersymmetry, with this being Lorentz invariant in dimension 10. This allows, as the authors explain in lucid detail, the unification of bosonic and fermionic strings in a single Fock space. 4. Current algebra on the string world sheet and its origin in the need for distributing charge throughout the string, rather than just at the ends. The origin of heterotic string theory is explained in this context.

39 people found this helpful

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Vernice Fresca

Great book

July 20, 2015

Format: Hardcover

Classic must-have

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