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We discuss some hitherto puzzling features of the small-scale structure of cosmic strings. We argue that kinks play a key role, and that an important quantity to study is their sharpness distribution. In particular we suggest that for very…
In this note we extend previous work on massless Ramond spectra of open strings connecting D-branes wrapped on complex manifolds, to consider D-branes wrapped on smooth complex orbifolds. Using standard methods, we calculate the massless…
The duality cascade, and its dual description as string theory on the warped deformed conifold, brings together several sophisticated topics, some of which are not widely known. These lectures, which contain a number of previously…
String propagation on a cone with deficit angle $2\pi (1- \frac{1}{N} ) $ is described by constructing a non-compact orbifold of a plane by a $Z_{N}$ subgroup of rotations. It is modular invariant and has tachyons in the twisted sectors…
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…
These notes are based on lectures given by Michael Green during Part III of the Mathematics Tripos (the Certificate for Advanced Study in Mathematics) in the Spring of 2003. The course provided an introduction to string theory, focussing on…
We review the status of duality symmetries in superstring theories. These discrete symmetries mark the striking differences between theories of pointlike objects and theories of extended objects. They prove to be very helpful in…
Let A denote the ring of differential operators on the affine line with its two usual generators t and d/dt given degrees +1 and -1 respectively. Let X be the stack having coarse moduli space the affine line Spec k[z] and isotropy groups…
This paper is a gentle introduction to some recent results involving the theory of gerbes over orbifolds for topologists, geometers and physicists. We introduce gerbes on manifolds, orbifolds, the Dixmier-Douady class, Beilinson-Deligne…
Recently, some of the authors have introduced a new interpretation of matrix models in which covariant derivatives on any curved space can be expressed by large-N matrices. It has been shown that the Einstein equation follows from the…
We start by giving a brief introduction to string theory with emphasis on the example of the bosonic string. In order to fully appreciate string theory it is necessary to study the dynamics of the surface that the string traces out when…
These informal notes are an expanded version of lectures on the moduli space of elliptic curves given at Zhejiang University in July, 2008. Their goal is to introduce and motivate basic concepts and constructions (such as orbifolds and…
Two predictions about finite-N non-supersymmetric "orientifold field theories" are made by using the dual type 0' string theory on C^3 / Z_2 x Z_2 orbifold singularity. First, the mass ratio between the lowest pseudoscalar and scalar…
We consider the interpretation in classical geometry of conformal field theories constructed from orbifolds with discrete torsion. In examples we can analyze, these spacetimes contain ``stringy regions'' that from a classical point of view…
In 1985, physicists Dixon, Harvey, Vafa and Witten studied string theories on Calabi-Yau orbifolds (cf. [DHVW]). An interesting discovery in their paper was the prediction that a certain physicist's Euler number of the orbifold must be…
We derive D-brane gauge theories for C^3/Z_n x Z_n orbifolds with discrete torsion and study the moduli space of a D-brane at a point. We show that, as suggested in previous work, closed string moduli do not fully resolve the singularity,…
This text, written as dissertation within the M.Sc. course in particle theory at the Centre for Particle Theory, University of Durham, during the academic year 1993/94, reviews two articles by D.Gross and by D.Gross and W.Taylor which…
We start from a quantum computational principle suggested for string theory in a previous paper and discuss how it might lead to a dynamical principle implying the correct classical gravitational limit. Besides this, we briefly look at some…
I briefly review several important formal theory developments in quantum field theory and string theory that were reported at ICHEP conferences in past decades, and explain how they underlie a new research area referred to as physical or…
We study string theory on singular Z_N quotients of AdS_3, corresponding to spaces with conical defects. The spectrum is computed using the orbifold procedure. It is shown that spectral flow may be used to generate the twisted sectors. We…