Meeting 09 Jan

FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT

The first class meeting is scheduled for Wednesday 9th January from 11:10am-12:00noon in MP1115. Please bring your brains and your calendars with you, as most of what we will discuss will be organizational. The physics will start for real on Friday 11th January.

Pre/co-requisites

First-semester Quantum Field Theory (QFT), or its equivalent, is a pre-requisite. Second-semester QFT is a recommended co-requisite. General Relativity is also recommended.

Sample syllabus

• Modern high-energy theory and the physical motivations for string theory
• Classical and quantum physics of relativistic point particles; classical relativistic string theory
• Nambu-Goto action; reparametrization invariance; equations of motion and boundary conditions; D-branes
• Worldsheet symmetry currents; Lorentz symmetry and conserved quantum numbers
• Light-front gauge; quantization of fields of spins 0,1,2
• Virasoro symmetry generators; role of oscillators; critical dimension and zero-point energy
• Construction of open and closed string quantum state spaces
• Superstrings: worldsheet fermions, NS and R sectors, GSO projection
• Parallel and intersecting D-branes and open strings
• Circle compactification and T-duality for closed and open strings; the Hagedorn phenomenon
• The Dark Side of String Theory: black branes and computing thermodynamic black hole entropy via superstring statistical mechanics
• Superstring duality
• Gauge/string duality
• Superstring cosmology
• …

Textbook

Within the limited field of available contenders, this will be chosen based on student interests. So, bring your opinions to the first class meeting!

A likely candidate covering the first half to two-thirds of the course is the 2004 text A First Course in String Theory by Barton Zwiebach. Other resources to be used will include scholarly review articles, for the later stages of the course.

Grading

Active class participation will be graded.

Every class member (including auditors) will be expected to do set homework assignments. These will be given every two weeks.

The final exam may be either a written test or a final research project and presentation. Bring your vote for your preference to the first organizational meeting.

Lectures

Unless a really excellent reason arises, we will hold class at the times scheduled by UofT: WF11. For those who aren’t familiar with local abbreviations, that means we meet on Wednesdays and Fridays from 11:10am until noon. Our room will be MP1115, which is located on the eleventh floor of McLennan Physics labs at 60 St George Street.

Office hours

These are to be determined by direct negotiation with class members.