T-duality, D-branes and modeling field theories

String Theory (Fall, 2010)

Lecture Playlist

  1. The historical origins of string theory

  2. Mathematics of string motion

  3. The energy spectrum of strings

  4. Closed strings and the level matching rule

  5. Bosonic strings

  6. Strings with spin

  7. Fermionic strings and path integrals

  8. Conformal mapping and string scattering

  9. Strings in compact dimensions

  10. T-duality, D-branes and modeling field theories

  11. String theory wrapup

November 30, 2010

Professor Susskind explains the behavior of open and closed strings in periodic dimensions.   The endpoints of open strings are seen to be stuck on surfaces known as D-branes.   The behavior of these open strings can model more traditional field theories with the end points taking the role of particles with charges (electric or color).

Topics: 
  • More on T-duality
  • Neumann boundary conditions lead to D-branes
  • Modeling field theories like QCD or QED with strings
References