Introduction to String Theory and AdS/CFT

The course is an introduction to the theory of strings/superstrings aiming at the AdS/CFT correspondence and its applications to modern physics.

String theory is the gate to deeper understanding of the celebrated AdS/CFT

correspondence.

The latter provides new tools to investigate various physical systems raging from dynamics of gauge interactions and gravity to solid state and plasma physics.

The lecture will provide fundamentals of string theory, the insight into the source of

the AdS/CFT correspondence, its generalization and examples of applications.

The lectures will have "down to earth flavour" focusing on physical content and suppressing cumbersome technicalities.

If necessary some supplementary materials (e.g. on theory of gravitation or quantum field theory) will be provided.

Program:

1. Classical theory of free strings.

2. Canonical quantization of strings:

spectrum, D-brane states, conformal symmetry.

3. Conformal field theory.

4. Interaction of strings: string diagrams, effective field theory,

Einstein theory, Yang-Mills theory.

5. D-branes: non-abelian gauge theory of branes.

6. D-branes as super-gravity solitons.

7. AdS/CFT duality.

8. Black holes and finite temperature gauge systems.

R.Blumenhagen, D.Lüst, S.Theisen - Basic concepts of string theory(2013)

E.Kiritsis - String theory in a nutshell (2007)

H.Nastase, Introduction to the AdS-CFT Correspondence

V.Schomerus, A primer on string theory (2017)

B.Zwiebach, A First Course In String Theory

Students should understand basics of string theory, its role in AdS/CFT correspondence as well as the correspondence itself plus some knowledge on its applications.

Grading will be based on number of problems solved during tutorial classes.

Regular attendance at classes is not mandatory.

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