Related papers: A different kind of four dimensional brane for str…
In string theory, the consequences of replacing the measure of integration $\sqrt{-\gamma}d^2 x$ in the Polyakov's action by $\Phi d^2 x$ where $\Phi$ is a density built out of degrees of freedom independent of the metric $\gamma_{ab}$…
This review is devoted to strings and branes. Firstly, perturbative string theory is introduced. The appearance of various types of branes is discussed. These include orbifold fixed planes, D-branes and orientifold planes. The connection to…
Branes are ubiquitous elements of any low-energy limit of string theory. We point out that negative tension branes violate all the standard energy conditions of the higher-dimensional spacetime they are embedded in; this opens the door to…
1. Preliminaries. 2. Heterotic string and motivations for large volume compactifications; 2.1 Gauge coupling unification; 2.2 Supersymmetry breaking by compactification. 3. M-theory on S^1/Z_2 \times Calabi-Yau. 4. Type I/I' string theory…
In this set of notes we simplify the formulation of the Poincare'-invariant effective string theory in D dimensions by adding an intrinsic metric and embedding its dynamics into the Polyakov formalism. We use this formalism to construct…
We consider, in five dimensions, the effective action from heterotic string which includes quantum gravity corrections up to (a')^2. The expansion, in the string frame, is in terms of |a'R|, where R is the scalar curvature and uses the…
D-branes are fundamental in all scenarios where there are large extra dimensions and the string scale is much smaller than the four-dimensional Planck mass. We show that this current picture leads to a new approach to string cosmology where…
Besides the familiar D-branes, string theory contains a vast number of other non-perturbative objects. While a complete classification is lacking, many of these objects are related to each other through various dualities. Codimension two…
The string and brane tensions do not have to be put in by hand, they can be dynamically generated, as in the case when we formulate string and brane theories in the modified measure formalism. Then string and brane tensions appears, but as…
In whatever Lorentz invariant theory, the presence of extended d-dimensional objects inside a higher dimensional bulk space-time, like for instance D-branes in string theories, induces a spontaneous breakdown of the Poincare' invariance of…
The use of a non-Riemannian measure of integration in the action of strings and branes allows the possibility of dynamical tension. In particular, lower dimensional objects living in the string/brane can induce discontinuities in the…
Starting from the non-BPS D$(p+1)$-brane action we derive an effective action in $(p+1)$ space dimensions by studying the fluctuations of various bosonic fields around the time-like tachyonic kink solution (obtained by Wick rotation of the…
The recently introduced anomaly-free twistor string in four dimensions is shown to be defined not just in flat but also in curved twistor space. Further, arguments are given that the classical limit of the corresponding string field theory,…
This article, based on the Klein lecture, contains some new results and new speculations on various topics. They include discussion of open strings in the AdS space, unusual features of D-branes, conformal gauge theories in higher…
Basics of some topics on perturbative and non-perturbative string theory are reviewed. After a mathematical survey of the Standard Model of particle physics and GUTs, the bosonic string kinematics for the free case and with interaction is…
We consider brane-world scenarios embedded into string theory. We find that the D-brane backreaction induces a large increase in the open string's proper length. Consequently the stringy nature of elementary particles can be detected at…
We discuss a new class of brane models (extending both p-brane and Dp-brane cases) where the brane tension appears as an additional dynamical degree of freedom instead of being put in by hand as an ad hoc dimensionfull scale. Consistency of…
The past year has seen enormous progress in string theory. It has become clear that all of the different string theories are different limits of a single theory. Moreover, in certain limits, one obtains a new, eleven-dimensional structure…
We study the properties of a D-brane in the presence of $k$ NS5 branes. The Dirac-Born-Infeld action describing the dynamics of this D-brane is very similar to that of a non-BPS D-brane in ten dimensions. As the D-brane approaches the…
We add a simple boundary term to the Polyakov action and construct a new class of D-branes with a single null direction. On the string world-sheet the system is described by a single quantized left-mode sector of a conformal field theory.…