Related papers: A Hierarchy of Super $w$\ Strings
Following hep-th/0309238 relating the matrix string theory to the light-cone superstring field theory, we write down two supercharges in the matrix string theory explicitly. After checking the supersymmetry algebra at the leading order, we…
This lecture presents a brief overview of the early history of string theory and supersymmetry. It describes how the S-matrix theory program for understanding the strong nuclear force evolved into superstring theory, which is a promising…
The target space theory of the N=(2,1) heterotic string may be interpreted as a theory of gravity coupled to matter in either $1+1$ or $2+1$ dimensions. Among the target space theories in $1+1$ dimensions are the bosonic, type II, and…
By using the hybrid formalism, superstrings in four-dimensional NS-NS plane waves are studied in a manifest supersymmetric manner. This description of the superstring is obtained by a field redefinition of the RNS worldsheet fields and…
The recent progress in the understanding of the landscape of string theory vacua hints that the hierarchy problem might be the problem of a super-selection rule. The attractor mechanism gives a possibility to explain the choice of a vacuum.…
N=2 heterotic strings may provide a window into the physics of M-theory radically different than that found via the other supersymmetric string theories. In addition to their supersymmetric structure, these strings carry a four-dimensional…
There are many conceivable possibilities of embedding the MSSM in string theory. These proceedings describe an approach which is based on grand unification in higher dimensions. This allows one to obtain global string-derived models with…
We consider worldsheet string theory on $Z_N$ orbifolds of $AdS_3$ associated with conical singularities. If the orbifold action includes a similar twist of $S^3$, supersymmetry is preserved, and there is a moduli space of vacua arising…
We show that a wide class of $W$-(super)algebras, including $W_N^{(N-1)}$, $U(N)$-superconformal as well as $W_N$ nonlinear algebras, can be linearized by embedding them as subalgebras into some {\em linear} (super)conformal algebras with…
The first part is an introduction to conformal field theory and string perturbation theory. The second part deals with the search for a deeper answer to the question posed in the title. Contents: 1. Conformal Field Theory 2. String Theory…
An order-preserving square in a string is a fragment of the form $uv$ where $u\neq v$ and $u$ is order-isomorphic to $v$. We show that a string $w$ of length $n$ over an alphabet of size $\sigma$ contains $\mathcal{O}(\sigma n)$…
We consider the Consensus Patterns problem, where, given a set of input strings, one is asked to extract a long-enough pattern which appears (with some errors) in all strings. We prove that this problem is W[1]-hard when parameterized by…
We generalize the results of Polchinski and Strassler regarding the N=1-preserving mass deformation of N=4 SU(N) SYM theories and its string theory dual to SO(N) and USp(2N) gauge groups. The string theory duals involve 5-branes wrapped on…
We describe heterotic string and M-theory realizations of the Randall-Sundrum (RS) scenario with $\cx N=2$ and $\cx N=1$ supersymmetry in the bulk. Supersymmetry can be broken only on the world brane, a scenario that has been proposed to…
We generalize to string theory a construction, originally proposed in field theory, that generates a hierarchy in the splittings between members of super-multiplets in various sectors of the theory.
In this talk I review recent developments in superstring theory. In the first half of the talk I discuss some of the earlier developments in this subject. This includes a review of the status of string theory as a unified theory of gravity…
The space of four dimensional string and $M$ theory vacua with non-Abelian gauge symmetry, chiral fermions and unbroken supersymmetry beyond the electroweak scale appears to be a disconnected space whose different components represent…
In these lectures we give a brief introduction to perturbative and non-perturbative string theory. The outline is the following: 1. Introduction to perturbative string theory 1.1 From point particle to extended objects 1.2 Free closed and…
The quasiclassical solution to the extended Toda chain hierarchy, corresponding to the deformation of the simplest Seiberg-Witten theory by all descendants of the dual topological string model, is constructed explicitly in terms of the…
We obtain the complete physical spectrum of the $W_N$ string, for arbitrary $N$. The $W_N$ constraints freeze $N-2$ coordinates, while the remaining coordinates appear in the currents only {\it via} their energy-momentum tensor. The…