The book is based on lectures given at the TASI summer school of 2010. It aims to provide advanced graduate students, postdoctorates and senior researchers with a survey of important topics in particle physics and string theory, with special emphasis on applications of methods from string theory and quantum gravity in condensed matter physics and QCD (especially heavy ion physics).

String theory is a model of fundamental physics whose building blocks are one-dimensional extended objects called strings, rather than the zero-dimensional point particles that form the basis for the standard model of particle physics. The phrase is often used as shorthand for Superstring theory, as well as related theories such as M-theory. By replacing the point-like particles with strings, an apparently consistent quantum theory of gravity emerges. Moreover, it may be possible to 'unify' the known natural forces (gravitational, electromagnetic, weak nuclear and strong nuclear) by describing them with the same set of equations. Studies of string theory have revealed that it predicts higher-dimensional objects called branes. String theory strongly suggests the existence of ten or eleven (in M-theory) space-time dimensions, as opposed to the usual four (three spatial and one temporal) used in relativity theory.

The essential introduction to modern string theory—now fully expanded and revised String Theory in a Nutshell is the definitive introduction to modern string theory. Written by one of the world’s leading authorities on the subject, this concise and accessible book starts with basic definitions and guides readers from classic topics to the most exciting frontiers of research today. It covers perturbative string theory, the unity of string interactions, black holes and their microscopic entropy, the AdS/CFT correspondence and its applications, matrix model tools for string theory, and more. It also includes 600 exercises and serves as a self-contained guide to the literature. This fully updated edition features an entirely new chapter on flux compactifications in string theory, and the chapter on AdS/CFT has been substantially expanded by adding many applications to diverse topics. In addition, the discussion of conformal field theory has been extensively revised to make it more student-friendly. The essential one-volume reference for students and researchers in theoretical high-energy physics Now fully expanded and revised Provides expanded coverage of AdS/CFT and its applications, namely the holographic renormalization group, holographic theories for Yang-Mills and QCD, nonequilibrium thermal physics, finite density physics, and entanglement entropy Ideal for mathematicians and physicists specializing in theoretical cosmology, QCD, and novel approaches to condensed matter systems An online illustration package is available to professors

A clear, plain-English guide to this complex scientific theory String theory is the hottest topic in physics right now, with books on the subject (pro and con) flying out of the stores. String Theory For Dummies offers an accessible introduction to this highly mathematical "theory of everything," which posits ten or more dimensions in an attempt to explain the basic nature of matter and energy. Written for both students and people interested in science, this guide explains concepts, discusses the string theory's hypotheses and predictions, and presents the math in an approachable manner. It features in-depth examples and an easy-to-understand style so that readers can understand this controversial, cutting-edge theory.

http://www.worldscientific.com/worldscibooks/10.1142/4727

Contents:Conformal Boundary Conditions — and What They Teach Us (V B Petkova & J-B Zuber)A Physical Basis for the Entropy of the AdS3 Black Hole (S Fernando & F Mansouri)Spinon Formulation of the Kondo Problem (A Klümper & J R Reyes-Martinez)Boundary Integrable Quantum Field Theories (P Dorey)Finite Size Effects in Integrable Quantum Field Theories (F Ravanini)Nonperturbative Analysis of the Two-Frequency Sine-Gordon Model (Z Bajnok et al.)Screening in Hot SU(2) Gauge Theory and Propagators in 3D Adjoint Higgs Model (A Cucchieri et al.)Effective Average Action in Statistical Physics and Quantum Field Theory (Ch Wetterich)Phase Transitions in Non-Hermitean Matrix Models and the “Single Ring” Theorem (J Feinberg et al.)Unraveling the Mystery of Flavor (A Falk)The Nahm Transformation on R2 X T2 (C Ford)A 2D Integrable Axion Model and Target Space Duality (P Forgács)Supersymmetric Ward Identities and Chiral Symmetry Breaking in SUSY QED (M L Walker)and other papers Readership: Theoretical, mathematical and high energy physicists. Keywords:

Physics World's 'Book of the Year' for 2016 An Entertaining and Enlightening Guide to the Who, What, and Why of String Theory, now also available in an updated reflowable electronic format compatible with mobile devices and e-readers. During the last 50 years, numerous physicists have tried to unravel the secrets of string theory. Yet why do these scientists work on a theory lacking experimental confirmation? Why String Theory? provides the answer, offering a highly readable and accessible panorama of the who, what, and why of this large aspect of modern theoretical physics. The author, a theoretical physics professor at the University of Oxford and a leading string theorist, explains what string theory is and where it originated. He describes how string theory fits into physics and why so many physicists and mathematicians find it appealing when working on topics from M-theory to monsters and from cosmology to superconductors.

This book is the second volume of the proceedings of the joint conference X. International Symposium “Quantum Theory and Symmetries” (QTS-X) and XII. International Workshop “Lie Theory and Its Applications in Physics” (LT-XII), 19–25 June 2017, Varna, Bulgaria. The QTS series started around the core concept that symmetries underlie all descriptions of quantum systems. It has since evolved into a symposium on the frontiers of theoretical and mathematical physics. The LT series covers the whole field of Lie Theory in its widest sense together with its applications in many facets of physics. As an interface between mathematics and physics the workshop serves as a meeting place for mathematicians and theoretical and mathematical physicists. In the division of the material between the two volumes, the Editor has tried to select for the first and second volumes papers that are more oriented toward mathematics and physics, respectively. However, this division is relative since many papers could have been placed in either volume. The topics covered in this volume represent the most modern trends in the fields of the joint conferences: symmetries in string theories, conformal field theory, holography, gravity theories and cosmology, gauge theories, foundations of quantum theory, nonrelativistic and classical theories.

Traditionally, Lie Theory is a tool to build mathematical models for physical systems. Recently, the trend is towards geometrisation of the mathematical description of physical systems and objects. A geometric approach to a system yields in general some notion of symmetry which is very helpful in understanding its structure. Geometrisation and symmetries are meant in their broadest sense, i.e., classical geometry, differential geometry, groups and quantum groups, infinite-dimensional (super-)algebras, and their representations. Furthermore, we include the necessary tools from functional analysis and number theory. This is a large interdisciplinary and interrelated field. Samples of these new trends are presented in this volume, based on contributions from the Workshop “Lie Theory and Its Applications in Physics” held near Varna, Bulgaria, in June 2011. This book is suitable for an extensive audience of mathematicians, mathematical physicists, theoretical physicists, and researchers in the field of Lie Theory.

This volume is targeted at theoretical physicists, mathematical physicists and mathematicians working on mathematical models for physical systems based on symmetry methods and in the field of Lie theory understood in the widest sense. It includes contributions on Lie theory, with two papers by the famous mathematician Kac (one paper with Bakalov), further papers by Aoki, Moens. Some other important contributions are in: field theory OCo Todorov, Grosse, Kreimer, Sokatchev, Gomez; string theory OCo Minwalla, Staudacher, Kostov; integrable systems OCo Belavin, Helminck, Ragoucy; quantum-mechanical and probabilistic systems OCo Goldin, Van der Jeugt, Leandre; quantum groups and related objects OCo Jakobsen, Arnaudon, Andruskiewitsch; and others. The proceedings have been selected for coverage in: . OCo Index to Scientific & Technical Proceedings- (ISTP- / ISI Proceedings). OCo Index to Scientific & Technical Proceedings (ISTP CDROM version / ISI Proceedings). OCo CC Proceedings OCo Engineering & Physical Sciences."