String theory has played a highly influential role in theoretical physics for nearly three decades and has substantially altered our view of the elementary building principles of the Universe. However, the theory remains empirically unconfirmed, and is expected to remain so for the foreseeable future. So why do string theorists have such a strong belief in their theory? This book explores this question, offering a novel insight into the nature of theory assessment itself. Dawid approaches the topic from a unique position, having extensive experience in both philosophy and high-energy physics. He argues that string theory is just the most conspicuous example of a number of theories in high-energy physics where non-empirical theory assessment has an important part to play. Aimed at physicists and philosophers of science, the book does not use mathematical formalism and explains most technical terms.

Contents: Extended Systems in Field Theory :Introduction (J-L Gervais and A Neveu)Vortices and Quark Confinement in Non-Abelian Gauge Theories (S Mandelstam)Magnetic and Electric Confinement of Quarks (Y Nambu)Examples of Four-Dimensional Soliton Solutions and Abnormal Nuclear States (T D Lee)Classical Solution in the Massive Thirring Model (S-J Chang)Semiclassical Quantization Methods in Field Theory (A Neveu)The Quantum Theory of Solitons and Other Non-Linear Classical Waves (R Jackiw)Collective Coordinate Method for Quantization of Extended Systems (J-L Gervais, A Jevicki and B Sakita)Quantum Expansion of Soliton Solutions (N H Christ)Hartree-Type Approximation Applied to a ϕ4 Field Theory (S-J Chang)Soliton Operators for the Quantized Sine–Gordon Equation (S Mandelstam)Classical Aspects and Fluctuation-Behaviour of Two Dimensional Models in Statistical Mechanics and Many Body Physics (B Schroer)Quarks on a Lattice, or, the Colored String Model (K G Wilson)New Ideas about Confinement (L Susskind and J Kogut)Gauge Fields on a Lattice (C Itzykson)Non-Perturbative Aspects in Quantum Field Theory:Self-Dual Solutions to Euclidean Yang–Mills Equations (E Corrigan)An Introduction to the Twistor Programme (J Madore, J L Richard and R Stora)Collective Coordinates with Non-Trivial Dynamics (J-L Gervais)A Theory of the Strong Interactions (D J Gross)Magneticmonopoles (D Olive)Dynamical and Topological Considerations on Quark Confinement (F Englert and P Windey)Difficulties in Fixing the Gauge in Non-Abelian Gauge Theories (S Sciuto)Indeterminate-Mass Particles (B M Mccoy and T T Wu)Duality for Discrete Lattice Gauge Fields (C Itzykson)Large Order Estimates in Perturbation Theory (J Zinn-Justin)The Borel Transform and the Renormalization Group (G Parisi)Planar Diagrams (E Brezin)Exact S-Matrices and Form Factors in 1 + 1 Dimensional Field Theoretic Models with Soliton Behaviour (M Karowski)Topology and Higher Symmetries of the Two-Dimensional Nonlinear σ Model (A D'adda, M Luscher and P Di Vecchia)Two-Dimensional Yang–Mills Theory in the Leading 1/N Expansion (T T Wu)Superfluidity and the Two-Dimensional XY Model' (D R Nelson)Bosonized Fermions in Three Dimensions (A Luther)Symmetry and Topology Concepts for Spin Glasses and Other Glasses (G Toulouse)Common Trends in Particle and Condensed Matter Physics:Introduction to Localization(D J Thouless)Conductivity Scaling and Localization(E Abrahams)Disordered Electronic System as a Model of Interacting Matrices(F Wegner)Status Report on Spin Glasses (Not Included in this Report)(S Kirkpatrick)Mean Field Theory for Spin Glasses(G Parisi)The Random Energy Model(B Derrida)Towards a Mean Field Theory of Spin Glasses: the Tap Route Revisited (C De Dominicis)On the Connection Between Spin Glasses and Gauge Field Theories(G Toulouse, J Vannimenus)Monte Carlo Simulations of Lattice Gauge Theories(C Rebbi)Large Dimension Expansions and Transition Patterns in Lattice Gauge Theories(J-M Drouffe)Progress in Lattice Gauge Theory(J B Kogut)Phase Structure of the Z(2) Gauge and Matter Theory(D Horn)General Introduction to Confinement(S Mandelstam)A Simple Picture of the Weak-to-Strong Coupling Transition in Quantum Chromodynamics(C G Callan Jr.)Quantum Fluctuations in a Multiinstanton Background(B A Berg)Some Comments on the Crossover Between Strong and Weak Coupling in Su(2) Pure Yang–Mills Theory(J Frohlich)String Dynamics in QCD (J-L Gervais, A Neveu)Dual Models and Strings: The Critical Dimension(C B Thorn: )Duality and Finite Size Effects in Six Vertex Models(C.B. Thorn: )Scaling at a Bifurcation Point(M Nauenberg, D Scalapino)Some Implications of a Cosmological Phase Transition(T W B Kibble) Readership: Graduate students and researchers in particle physics andcondensed matter physics.

String theory made understandable. Barton Zwiebach is once again faithful to his goal of making string theory accessible to undergraduates. He presents the main concepts of string theory in a concrete and physical way to develop intuition before formalism, often through simplified and illustrative examples. Complete and thorough in its coverage, this new edition now includes AdS/CFT correspondence and introduces superstrings. It is perfectly suited to introductory courses in string theory for students with a background in mathematics and physics. New sections cover strings on orbifolds, cosmic strings, moduli stabilization, and the string theory landscape. Now with almost 300 problems and exercises, with password-protected solutions for instructors at www.cambridge.org/zwiebach.

String theory made understandable. Barton Zwiebach is once again faithful to his goal of making string theory accessible to undergraduates. He presents the main concepts of string theory in a concrete and physical way to develop intuition before formalism, often through simplified and illustrative examples. Complete and thorough in its coverage, this new edition now includes AdS/CFT correspondence and introduces superstrings. It is perfectly suited to introductory courses in string theory for students with a background in mathematics and physics. New sections cover strings on orbifolds, cosmic strings, moduli stabilization, and the string theory landscape. Now with almost 300 problems and exercises, with password-protected solutions for instructors at www.cambridge.org/zwiebach.

A clear, plain-English guide to this complex scientific theory String theory is the hottest topic in physics right now, with books on the subject (pro and con) flying out of the stores. String Theory For Dummies offers an accessible introduction to this highly mathematical "theory of everything," which posits ten or more dimensions in an attempt to explain the basic nature of matter and energy. Written for both students and people interested in science, this guide explains concepts, discusses the string theory's hypotheses and predictions, and presents the math in an approachable manner. It features in-depth examples and an easy-to-understand style so that readers can understand this controversial, cutting-edge theory.

The essential beginner's guide to string theory The Little Book of String Theory offers a short, accessible, and entertaining introduction to one of the most talked-about areas of physics today. String theory has been called the "theory of everything." It seeks to describe all the fundamental forces of nature. It encompasses gravity and quantum mechanics in one unifying theory. But it is unproven and fraught with controversy. After reading this book, you'll be able to draw your own conclusions about string theory. Steve Gubser begins by explaining Einstein's famous equation E = mc2, quantum mechanics, and black holes. He then gives readers a crash course in string theory and the core ideas behind it. In plain English and with a minimum of mathematics, Gubser covers strings, branes, string dualities, extra dimensions, curved spacetime, quantum fluctuations, symmetry, and supersymmetry. He describes efforts to link string theory to experimental physics and uses analogies that nonscientists can understand. How does Chopin's Fantasie-Impromptu relate to quantum mechanics? What would it be like to fall into a black hole? Why is dancing a waltz similar to contemplating a string duality? Find out in the pages of this book. The Little Book of String Theory is the essential, most up-to-date beginner's guide to this elegant, multidimensional field of physics.

This volume contains the proceedings of the conference String-Math 2015, which was held from December 31, 2015–January 4, 2016, at Tsinghua Sanya International Mathematics Forum in Sanya, China. Two of the main themes of this volume are frontier research on Calabi-Yau manifolds and mirror symmetry and the development of non-perturbative methods in supersymmetric gauge theories. The articles present state-of-the-art developments in these topics. String theory is a broad subject, which has profound connections with broad branches of modern mathematics. In the last decades, the prosperous interaction built upon the joint efforts from both mathematicians and physicists has given rise to marvelous deep results in supersymmetric gauge theory, topological string, M-theory and duality on the physics side, as well as in algebraic geometry, differential geometry, algebraic topology, representation theory and number theory on the mathematics side.