String Theory 2

3 EC

Semester 2, period 6

53542STT3Y

Owner Master Physics and Astronomy (joint degree)
Coordinator dr. L. Eberhardt
Part of Master Physics and Astronomy, track Theoretical Physics, Master Physics and Astronomy (joint degree), track General Physics and Astronomy,

Course manual 2024/2025

Course content

This is a continuation of the course string theory 1 and forms the natural endpoint of the courses of the theory track for students who wish to specialize in a formal theory direction. The topics that will be treated are

- Strings in background fields

- D-branes and worldvolume theories

- Non-abelian gauge theories and their large N limit

- Superstrings and supergravity

- AdS/CFT correspondence

This equips the students to understand contemporary literature in the subject, have an informed opinion about the status of string theory and start performing original research in the subject.

Study materials

Literature

  • David Tong: Lectures on String theory. https://www.damtp.
    cam.ac.uk/user/tong/string.html

     

  • Green, Schwarz, Witten: Superstring theory, vol 1 and 2

  • Blumenhagen, Lüst, Theisen: Basic Concepts of String Theory

  • Polchinski: String theory, vol 1 and 2

  • Zaffaroni: Introduction to the AdS/CFT correspondence https://virgilio.mib.infn.it/~zaffaron/lezioniLosannafin.pdf

  • Clifford Johnson: D-branes

Objectives

  • Understand the low-energy effective description of string theory
  • Understanding of dualities, in particular holography
  • Use quantum field theory in different dimensions
  • Understand the physics of D-branes

Teaching methods

  • Lecture
  • Self-study

Learning activities

Activity

Hours

Hoorcollege

16

Werkcollege

16

Self study

52

Total

84

(3 EC x 28 uur)

Attendance

Requirements concerning attendance (OER-B).

  • In addition to, or instead of, classes in the form of lectures, the elements of the master’s examination programme often include a practical component as defined in article A-1.2 of part A. The course catalogue contains information on the types of classes in each part of the programme. Attendance during practical components is mandatory.

    • Assessment

    Item and weight Details

    Final grade

    This is a pass/fail course. There will be two starred homework exercises. The students have to hand in at least one of these and work it out satisfactorily (meaning that they obtain the equivalent of a 6/10 or higher in one of the homeworks). This will admit the student to an oral exam at the end of the course, which will test the student's understanding of the course material and determines whether the student passes or fails.

    Assignments

    There are two homework assignments that serve as the admission ticket to the oral exam (at least one has to be passed). They are to be worked out alone, not in groups or with the help of AI. They are to be handed in on the indicated date. Feedback will be given in the next exercise session.

    Fraud and plagiarism

    The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl

    Course structure

    WeeknummerOnderwerpenStudiestof
    1
    2
    3
    4

    Contact information

    Coordinator

    • dr. L. Eberhardt

    Teaching assistant: Marco Baccianti m.m.baccianti@uva.nl