An accessible introduction to string theory, this book provides a detailed and self-contained demonstration of the main concepts involved. The first part deals with basic ideas, reviewing special relativity and electromagnetism while introducing the concept of extra dimensions. D-branes and the classical dynamics of relativistic strings are discussed next, and the quantization of open and closed bosonic strings in the light-cone gauge, along with a brief introduction to superstrings. The second part begins with a detailed study of D-branes followed by string thermodynamics. It discusses possible physical applications, and covers T-duality of open and closed strings, electromagnetic fields on D-branes, Born-Infeld electrodynamics, covariant string quantization and string interactions. Primarily aimed as a textbook for advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate courses, it will also be ideal for a wide range of scientists and mathematicians who are curious about string theory.

Table of Contents

Part I. Basics: 1. A brief introduction; 2. Special relativity and extra dimensions; 3. Electromagnetism and gravitation; 4. Non-relativistic strings; 5. The relativistic point particle; 6. Relativistic strings; 7. String parameterization and motion; 8. World-sheet currents; 9. Light-cone relativistic strings; 10. Light-cone fields and particles; 11. Relativistic quantum particles; 12. Quantum open strings; 13. Quantum closed strings; Part II. Developments: 14. D-branes and gauge fields; 15. String charge, electric charge, and particle physics; 16. String thermodynamics and black holes; 17. T-duality of closed strings; 18. T-duality of open strings; 19. Electromagnetic fields on D-branes; 20. Nonlinear electrodynamics; 21. Covariant string quantization; 22. Interactions and Riemann surfaces; 23. Loop amplitudes in string theory; References; Index.