Glossary of string theory

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

Conventions

αβγ

How are these related?
There is only one dimensional constant in string theory, and that is the inverse string tension $\alpha^$ with units of area. Sometimes $\alpha^$ is therefore replaced by a length $l_s=\sqrt$. The string tension is mostly defined as the fraction
:$\frac.$
Tension is energy or work per unit length. In natural units $c=1$ and $\hbar=1$, and hence $\alpha^$ has dimension of length/energy or length/mass. Since $\hbar$ has the dimension of action, i.e. momentum times length, it follows that in natural units mass =1/length, and so $\alpha^$ has the unit of area.
The slope $\alpha^$ 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.
:$\frac.$
Since angular momentum is moment of momentum $p$, i.e. length times mass with $c=1$, $S$ is dimensionless in natural units, and $\alpha^$ has units of $1/M^2$ or area like the inverse string tension.

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XYZ

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

External links

Particle physics glossary at interactions.org
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String theory
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