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Strings, Conformal Fields, and M-Theory
String theory continues to progress at an astonishing rate, and this book brings the reader up to date with the latest developments and the most active areas of research in the field. Building on the foundations laid in his Introduction to Superstrings and M Theory, Professor Kaku discusses such topics as the classification of conformal string theories, knot theory, the Yang-Baxter relation, quantum groups, and the insights into 11-dimensional strings recently obtained from M-theory. New chapters discuss such topics as Seiberg- Witten theory, M theory and duality., and D-branes. Several chapters review the fundamentals of string theory, making the presentation of the material self-contained while keeping overlap with the earlier book to a minimum. This book conveys the vitality of the current research and places readers at its forefront.
546 pages, Hardcover
First published October 15, 1992
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About the author
Michio Kaku
53 books6,923 followers(Arabic: ميشيو كاكو
Russian: Митио Каку
Chinese: 加來道雄)
Dr. Michio Kaku is an American theoretical physicist at the City College of New York , best-selling author, a futurist, and a communicator and popularizer of science. He has written several books about physics and related topics of science.
He has written two New York Times Best Sellers, Physics of the Impossible (2008) and Physics of the Future (2011).
Dr. Michio is the co-founder of string field theory (a branch of string theory), and continues Einstein’s search to unite the four fundamental forces of nature into one unified theory.
Kaku was a Visitor and Member (1973 and 1990) at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, and New York University. He currently holds the Henry Semat Chair and Professorship in theoretical physics at the City College of New York.
Russian: Митио Каку
Chinese: 加來道雄)
Dr. Michio Kaku is an American theoretical physicist at the City College of New York , best-selling author, a futurist, and a communicator and popularizer of science. He has written several books about physics and related topics of science.
He has written two New York Times Best Sellers, Physics of the Impossible (2008) and Physics of the Future (2011).
Dr. Michio is the co-founder of string field theory (a branch of string theory), and continues Einstein’s search to unite the four fundamental forces of nature into one unified theory.
Kaku was a Visitor and Member (1973 and 1990) at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, and New York University. He currently holds the Henry Semat Chair and Professorship in theoretical physics at the City College of New York.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
June 6, 2012
Like all books of Michio Kaku, the book is written nicely and the topics included are indeed modern and up to date. In order to understand it, it is recommended that one has done a course on superstring theory, preferably on infinite-dimensional Lie algebras and supersymmetry too, and that one has read some material on conformal field theory (good books are by di Francesco et al. and Ketov). Kaku goes very quickly through the more fundamental subjects before going into more difficult matter, such as string field theory, phenomenology and M-theory.
The book progresses fast beyond what might be known from basic graduate courses on superstring theory, but does not become too specific or detailed. It serves as a bridge to more advanced literature by providing somewhat more sophisticated knowledge than the average textbook (such as Polchinski).
The book is not completely self-contained, but a list of references is given at the end of each chapter, so one can find its way through the bits and pieces that are necessary to understand before proceeding.
So, in order to understand it, you need to read other books (e.g. first Zwiebach and then Polchinski or Green, Schwarz & Witten for more advanced topics and superstring theory). But in order to understand the literature, this book can be of assistance.
The book progresses fast beyond what might be known from basic graduate courses on superstring theory, but does not become too specific or detailed. It serves as a bridge to more advanced literature by providing somewhat more sophisticated knowledge than the average textbook (such as Polchinski).
The book is not completely self-contained, but a list of references is given at the end of each chapter, so one can find its way through the bits and pieces that are necessary to understand before proceeding.
So, in order to understand it, you need to read other books (e.g. first Zwiebach and then Polchinski or Green, Schwarz & Witten for more advanced topics and superstring theory). But in order to understand the literature, this book can be of assistance.
Displaying 1 of 1 review