Glossary of string theory

Template:Short description This page is a glossary of terms in string theory, including related areas such as supergravity, supersymmetry, and high energy physics.

αβγ

Template:Term Template:Defn Template:Defn How are these related? There is only one dimensional constant in string theory, and that is the inverse string tension ${\alpha }^{\prime }$ with units of area. Sometimes ${\alpha }^{\prime }$ is therefore replaced by a length $l_s=\sqrt{{\alpha }^{\prime }}$. The string tension is mostly defined as the fraction

$\frac{1}{2\pi {\alpha }^{\prime }}.$

Tension is energy or work per unit length. In natural units $c=1$ and $\hslash =1$, and hence ${\alpha }^{\prime }$ has dimension of length/energy or length/mass. Since $\hslash$ has the dimension of action, i.e. momentum times length, it follows that in natural units mass =1/length, and so ${\alpha }^{\prime }$ has the unit of area. The slope ${\alpha }^{\prime }$ of a Regge trajectory $\alpha (M^2)$ in Regge theory is the derivative of spin $S$ or angular momentum with respect to mass-squared, i.e.

$\frac{dS}{d{M}^2}.$

Since angular momentum is moment of momentum $p$, i.e. length times mass with $c=1$, $S$ is dimensionless in natural units, and ${\alpha }^{\prime }$ has units of $1/M^2$ or area like the inverse string tension.

See also

• List of string theory topics

References

• Becker, Katrin, Becker, Melanie, and John H. Schwarz (2007) String Theory and M-Theory: A Modern Introduction . Cambridge University Press. Template:ISBN
• Binétruy, Pierre (2007) Supersymmetry: Theory, Experiment, and Cosmology. Oxford University Press. Template:ISBN.
• Dine, Michael (2007) Supersymmetry and String Theory: Beyond the Standard Model. Cambridge University Press. Template:ISBN.
• Template:Cite book
• Michael Green, John H. Schwarz and Edward Witten (1987) Superstring theory. Cambridge University Press. The original textbook.
  • Vol. 1: Introduction. Template:ISBN.
  • Vol. 2: Loop amplitudes, anomalies and phenomenology. Template:ISBN.
• Kiritsis, Elias (2007) String Theory in a Nutshell. Princeton University Press. Template:ISBN.
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• Polchinski, Joseph (1998) String Theory. Cambridge University Press.
  • Vol. 1: An introduction to the bosonic string. Template:ISBN.
  • Vol. 2: Superstring theory and beyond. Template:ISBN.
• Szabo, Richard J. (Reprinted 2007) An Introduction to String Theory and D-brane Dynamics. Imperial College Press. Template:ISBN.
• Zwiebach, Barton (2004) A First Course in String Theory. Cambridge University Press. Template:ISBN. Contact author for errata.

External links

• Particle physics glossary at interactions.org Template:Webarchive