Product Description

String Theory comprises two volumes which provide a comprehensive and pedagogic account of the subject. Volume 2 begins with an introduction to supersymmetric string theories and presents the important advances of recent years. The first three chapters introduce the type I, type II, and heterototic superstring theories and their interactions. The next two chapters present important recent discoveries about strongly coupled strings, beginning with a detailed treatment of D-branes and their dynamics, and covering string duality, M-theory, and black hole entropy. The final chapters are concerned with four-dimensional string theories, showing how some of the simplest string models connect with previous ideas for unifying the Standard Model. They collect many important results on world-sheet and spacetime symmetries. An appendix summarizes the necessary background on fermions and supersymmetry. An essential text and reference for graduate students and researchers interested in modern superstring theory.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #224702 in Books
• Published on: 2005-02-06
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 552 pages

Review
'In summary, these volumes will provide … the standard text and reference for students and researchers in particle physics and relativity interested in the possible ramifications of modern superstring theory.' Allen C. Hirshfeld, General Relativity and Gravitation

'Polchinski is a major contributor to the exciting developments that have revolutionised our understanding of string theory during the past four years; he is also an exemplary teacher, as Steven Weinberg attests in his foreword. He has produced an outstanding two-volume text, with numerous exercises accompanying each chapter. It is destined to become a classic … magnificent.' David Bailin, The Times Higher Education Supplement

'The present volume succeeds in giving a detailed yet comprehensive account of our current knowledge of superstring dynamics. The topics covered range from the basic construction of the theories to the most recent discoveries on their non-perturbative behaviour. The discussion is remarkably self-contained (the volume even contains a useful appendix on spinors and supersymmetry in several dimensions), and thus may serve as an introduction to the subject, and as an excellent reference for researchers in the field.' Mathematical Reviews

Customer Reviews

The best book on the subject!
I was rather surprised to see that this comprehensive and pedagogical text - destined surely to become a classic in this field - has received a 1* rating! This turns out to be because it has been reviewed by only one reader confesses that he "... couldn't comment on it at all from a scientific point of view" !

I would suggest that readers looking for popular expositions of string theory "... in English, as opposed to hundreds of complex equations" steer clear of Cambridge Monographs on Mathematical Physics and not write unhelpful reviews.

Meanwhile I cannot recommend this book strongly enough for graduate students and researchers in string theory and am giving it a 5* rating!

Laymen beware - this is a book for researchers and students
The rating I have given this book is entirely from a layman's point of view. i.e. it is not a book for those who are looking for an overview (in English, as opposed to hundreds of complex equations) of string theory and how it fits into modern physics. I couldn't comment on it at all from a scientific point of view.