String Theory In Curved Space Times A Collaborative Research Report

String Theory In Curved Space Times, A Collaborative Research Report

The main goal and impact of modern string theory is to provide a consistent quantum theory of gravity. This book provides an updated collection of original new developments and fundamental research in string theory in connection with gravity and physics at the Planck energy scale.Topics treated in this volume by pioneering researchers in the field include: classical and quantum string dynamics in strong gravitational fields, space-time singularities, black holes and cosmological backgrounds; particle and string scattering at the Planck energy scale; string cosmology and its observational consequences; the new features of multistrings and of quantum particle transmutation for strings in curved spacetimes.The book deals with (i) the several new methods developed to solve the highly nonlinear string dynamics in curved spactimes: approximative perturbative methods, asymptotic expansions, exact local expansions and exact global (over the whole world sheet) string solitonic solutions, (ii) the string energy momentum tensor and the equation of state for the string matter, the stretching of the string size in spacetimes with event horizons and near spacetime singularities, (iii) the canonical and semiclassical quantization of strings in curved spacetimes and the physical effects found for: the mass spectrum, structure of levels, scattering amplitudes, number operator and particle transmutation.

String Theory Research Progress

String theory is a model of fundamental physics whose building blocks are one-dimensional extended objects called strings, rather than the zero-dimensional point particles that form the basis for the standard model of particle physics. The phrase is often used as shorthand for Superstring theory, as well as related theories such as M-theory. By replacing the point-like particles with strings, an apparently consistent quantum theory of gravity emerges. Moreover, it may be possible to 'unify' the known natural forces (gravitational, electromagnetic, weak nuclear and strong nuclear) by describing them with the same set of equations. Studies of string theory have revealed that it predicts higher-dimensional objects called branes. String theory strongly suggests the existence of ten or eleven (in M-theory) space-time dimensions, as opposed to the usual four (three spatial and one temporal) used in relativity theory.

Mathematical Reviews