Topics   Homework   Most Recent Solutions

Spring Semester String Theory (2005)
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4:30-6:00pm, CP 183

String theory is the leading candidate to combine gravitational and quantum physics, and thus to unify all the elementary forces. The course will cover elementary string quantization and show how particles like the photon and graviton emerge from string theory. We will also discuss the extra dimensions that are predicted in string theory, and their so-called compactification. Compactification can lead to phenomenologically relevant theories. All concepts that are needed, such as Lagrangian mechanics, special relativity, and Maxwell's equations will be reviewed. Nevertheless, students are encouraged to have taken classical mechanics (Phy 404), special relativity, quantum mechanics (Phy 520) and electromagnetism (Phy 417). No prior knowledge of field theory or general relativity is assumed.

To Register

The semester is now over.
The course may be taken for credit by signing up for independent study (PHY 395 or PHY 781) with Prof. Das or Prof. Shapere. Auditors are welcome.

Instructor

Dr. Jeremy Michelson, CP 265, 257-2757

Office Hours: Mondays and Wednesdays, 4-5pm.

Text

A First Course in String Theory by Barton Zwiebach (errata)

Grading

The grade will be determined entirely by homework and class participation.

Anticipated Course Outline

  1. Why String Theory?
  2. Special Relativity and Covariance
    1. spacelike, timelike and lightlike intervals
    2. tensors
    3. lightcone coordinates
    4. extra dimensions
  3. Electromagnetism and Gravity
    1. Covariance of electromagnetism
    2. Electromagnetism for arbitrary spacetime dimensions
    3. Gravity
  4. Review of Quantum Mechanics
    1. the Schrödinger equation
    2. extra dimensions
  5. The Nonrelativistic String
    1. Introduction to stringy concepts (string tension, etc.)
    2. Lagrangian formulation of the nonrelativistic string
    3. Boundary conditions
    4. Vibrational string spectrum
  6. Relativistic Particles and Strings
    1. Lagrangian approach to particles, and geometry
    2. Relativistic strings
    3. Boundary conditions and D-branes
    4. String Interactions
  7. Symmetries and Conservation Laws
  8. Lightcone Gauge and the String Spectrum
  9. Particles in Lightcone Gauge
  10. Lightcone Quantization of Particles
  11. Lightcone Quantization of the String
    1. The open string spectrum
    2. The closed string spectrum
    3. Electromagnetism
    4. Gravitation
  12. Toroidal Compactification
    1. The Kaluza-Klein mechanism
    2. T-duality
  13. Other topics may include
    1. Calabi-Yau compactification
    2. Supersymmetry
    3. The superstring
    4. Chan-Paton Factors
    5. Matrix Theory

Homework (Solutions require a password)

Assignment 1: due Tuesday, January 25, 2005
tex (2119 bytes),tex.gz (976 bytes),zip (1096 bytes)|ps.gz (17 Kb),ps (36 Kb)|pdf (46 Kb)
Last updated: Tue, Jan 18, 2005 @ 12:02:48 PM EST.
Solutions
tgz (44 Kb),zip (44 Kb)|ps.gz (117 Kb),ps (290 Kb)|pdf (86 Kb)
Last updated: Tue, Feb 8, 2005 @ 11:14:48 AM EST.
Assignment 2: due Tuesday, February 1, 2005
tex (2480 bytes),tex.gz (1079 bytes),zip (1199 bytes)|ps.gz (18 Kb),ps (40 Kb)|pdf (55 Kb)
Last updated: Thu, Jan 27, 2005 @ 4:07:10 PM EST.
Solutions
tgz (83 Kb),zip (85 Kb)|ps.gz (191 Kb),ps (410 Kb)|pdf (133 Kb)
Last updated: Thu, Sep 15, 2005 @ 12:02:26 PM EDT.
Assignment 3: due Tuesday, February 8, 2005
tex (4932 bytes),tex.gz (2161 bytes),zip (2281 bytes)|ps.gz (31 Kb),ps (70 Kb)|pdf (93 Kb)
Last updated: Tue, Feb 1, 2005 @ 3:33:29 PM EST.
Solutions
tex (18 Kb),tex.gz (5993 bytes),zip (6115 bytes)|ps.gz (57 Kb),ps (138 Kb)|pdf (175 Kb)
Last updated: Tue, Feb 15, 2005 @ 2:12:17 PM EST.
Assignment 4: due Thursday, February 17, 2005
tex (5413 bytes),tex.gz (2314 bytes),zip (2434 bytes)|ps.gz (32 Kb),ps (73 Kb)|pdf (93 Kb)
Last updated: Mon, Feb 14, 2005 @ 3:26:05 PM EST.
Solutions
tex (18 Kb),tex.gz (6091 bytes),zip (6213 bytes)|ps.gz (59 Kb),ps (144 Kb)|pdf (173 Kb)
Last updated: Thu, Feb 24, 2005 @ 2:33:48 PM EST.
Assignment 5: due Thursday, February 24, 2005
tex (3538 bytes),tex.gz (1561 bytes),zip (1681 bytes)|ps.gz (25 Kb),ps (56 Kb)|pdf (73 Kb)
Last updated: Thu, Feb 17, 2005 @ 6:05:44 PM EST.
Solutions
tex (22 Kb),tex.gz (6774 bytes),zip (6896 bytes)|ps.gz (63 Kb),ps (158 Kb)|pdf (179 Kb)
Last updated: Thu, Feb 24, 2005 @ 6:00:37 PM EST.
Assignment 6: due Thursday, March 3, 2005
tex (2489 bytes),tex.gz (1181 bytes),zip (1301 bytes)|ps.gz (21 Kb),ps (47 Kb)|pdf (62 Kb)
Last updated: Thu, Feb 24, 2005 @ 2:30:05 PM EST.
Solutions
tgz (78 Kb),zip (78 Kb)|ps.gz (158 Kb),ps (731 Kb)|pdf (172 Kb)
Last updated: Mon, Mar 7, 2005 @ 9:55:54 AM EST.
Assignment 7: due Thursday, March 10, 2005
tex (3421 bytes),tex.gz (1481 bytes),zip (1601 bytes)|ps.gz (23 Kb),ps (52 Kb)|pdf (66 Kb)
Last updated: Wed, Mar 9, 2005 @ 10:21:11 AM EST.
Solutions
tgz (143 Kb),zip (144 Kb)|ps.gz (254 Kb),ps (529 Kb)|pdf (150 Kb)
Last updated: Tue, Mar 22, 2005 @ 2:27:31 PM EST.
Assignment 8: due Thursday, March 24, 2005
tex (5035 bytes),tex.gz (2225 bytes),zip (2345 bytes)|ps.gz (28 Kb),ps (64 Kb)|pdf (84 Kb)
Last updated: Thu, Mar 10, 2005 @ 5:58:27 PM EST.
Solutions
tgz (125 Kb),zip (125 Kb)|ps.gz (214 Kb),ps (463 Kb)|pdf (177 Kb)
Last updated: Mon, Mar 28, 2005 @ 11:58:19 AM EST.
Extra Material: gif1(298 Kb), mw1(212 Kb), html1(1738 bytes)
Assignment 9: due Thursday, March 31, 2005
tgz (40 Kb),zip (40 Kb)|ps.gz (100 Kb),ps (202 Kb)|pdf (75 Kb)
Last updated: Thu, Mar 24, 2005 @ 4:00:25 PM EST.
Solutions
tgz (360 Kb),zip (359 Kb)|ps.gz (453 Kb),ps (2.6 Mb)|pdf (475 Kb)
Last updated: Thu, Apr 7, 2005 @ 12:05:30 PM EDT.
Assignment 10: due Thursday, April 7, 2005
tex (3707 bytes),tex.gz (1631 bytes),zip (1752 bytes)|ps.gz (25 Kb),ps (55 Kb)|pdf (76 Kb)
Last updated: Thu, Mar 31, 2005 @ 3:17:05 PM EST.
Solutions
tgz (11 Kb),zip (11 Kb)|ps.gz (69 Kb),ps (171 Kb)|pdf (172 Kb)
Last updated: Sun, Apr 17, 2005 @ 11:30:04 AM EDT.
Assignment 11: due Thursday, April 21, 2005
tex (1514 bytes),tex.gz (732 bytes),zip (853 bytes)|ps.gz (11 Kb),ps (24 Kb)|pdf (25 Kb)
Last updated: Mon, Apr 25, 2005 @ 10:47:01 AM EDT.
Solutions
tgz (11 Kb),zip (11 Kb)|ps.gz (53 Kb),ps (135 Kb)|pdf (118 Kb)
Last updated: Tue, Apr 26, 2005 @ 10:41:45 AM EDT.
Assignment 12: due Thursday, May 5, 2005
tex (2997 bytes),tex.gz (1380 bytes),zip (1501 bytes)|ps.gz (22 Kb),ps (49 Kb)|pdf (63 Kb)
Last updated: Wed, Apr 27, 2005 @ 9:47:41 AM EDT.
Solutions
tex (17 Kb),tex.gz (5283 bytes),zip (5406 bytes)|ps.gz (51 Kb),ps (126 Kb)|pdf (124 Kb)
Last updated: Thu, May 5, 2005 @ 7:49:54 PM EDT.

Last modified: Tue, Jan 17, 2006 @ 10:41:50 PM EST.   Valid HTML 4.01! Valid CSS!

Jeremy Michelson    UK String Group    UK Physics & Astronomy    UK Physics & Astronomy Courses