This book provides a self-contained presentation of supergravity theories from its fundamentals to its most recent union with string and superstring theories, which are also reviewed in a self-contained manner. The subject is presented consistently in a unified geometric formalism, relying on the calculus of exterior forms and the mathematics needed to develop the theory is explained in appropriate chapters.

A unified theory embracing all physical phenomena is a major goal of theoretical physics. In the early 1980s, many physicists looked to eleven-dimensional supergravity in the hope that it might provide that elusive superunified theory. In 1984 supergravity was knocked off its pedestal by ten-dimensional superstrings, one-dimensional objects whose v

Based on courses given at the CRM Banff summer school in 1999, this volume provides a snapshot of topics engaging theoretical physicists at the end of the twentieth century and the beginning of the twenty-first. Young physicists will find in these chapters pedagogical introductions to subjects currently active in theoretical physics, and more seasoned physicists will find a chance to share the excitement of fields outside their immediate research interests.

Many of the topics in this book are outgrowths of the spectacular new understanding of duality in string theory which emerged around 1995. They include the AdS/CFT correspondence and its relation to holography, the matrix theory formulation of M theory, the structure of black holes in string theory, the structure of D-branes and M-branes, and detailed development of dualities with N = 1 and N = 2 supersymmetry. In addition, there are lectures covering experimental and phenomenological aspects of the Standard Model and its extensions, and discussions on cosmology including both theoretical aspects and the exciting new experimental evidence for a non-zero cosmological constant.

Combinatorial Aspects of Lie Superalgebras emphasizes the algorithmic and computational aspects of the combinatorial techniques of Lie superalgebras. It is written primarily for mathematicians and scientists who do not have a background in the field of infinite dimensional Lie superalgebras, but who realize the potential uses of the results. Consequently, the discussions provided on the applications of Lie superalgebras theory are clear and comprehensive and, throughout the text, primary attention is given to algorithms and examples. The examples illustrate theoretical results, and the algorithms, which can be used for symbolic calculations with Lie superalgebras, are based on basic and generally applicable rules and theorems. Combinatorial Aspects of Lie Superalgebras contains comprehensive literature citations and provides an excellent reference on the techniques and results of combinatorial theory of Lie superalgebras. Programs that have been developed by the authors for computation are included on a diskette at the back of the book, and complete directions for use are provided.