Academic Training: String Theory for Pedestrians

2006-2007 ACADEMIC TRAINING PROGRAMME
LECTURE SERIES

29, 30, 31 January 2007, from 11:00 to 12:00
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.