Academic training : String Theory for Pedestrians

LECTURE SERIES
29, 30, 31 January 2007
from 11.00 to 12.00 hrs
Main Auditorium, bldg. 500 on 29 and 30 January
TH Auditorium, Bldg 4, 3-006, on 31 January

String Theory for Pedestrians
B. ZWIEBACH/MIT, Cambridge, USA

In this 3-lecture series I will discuss the basics of string theory, some physical applications, and the outlook for the future.  I will begin with the main concepts of the classical theory and the application to the study of cosmic superstrings. Then I will turn  to the quantum theory and discuss applications to the investigation of hadronic spectra and the recently discovered quark-gluon plasma.  I will conclude with a sketch of string models of particle physics and showing some avenues that may lead to a complete formulation of string theory.