What Are Calabi-Yau Spaces in String Theory?

[xj420]

I'm new to this string theory, but from what I've read (The Elegant Universe and a few papers), I realize that a good knowledge of the string theory requires a strong understanding of these Calbi-Yau spaces. Being a sophomore in college, I don't yet posess the mathematical abilities to fully comprehend what the formulas in the papers I've read mean; so they are pretty much useless to me. Apart from being a plank size bundle of spatial dimensions, I really have not a clue of what Calbi-Yau spaces are. Apart from the 4 dimensions we live in, I really don't know where to begin on understanding the other 7. If anyone can help me understand Calbi-Yau spaces, that would be great.

 

[sol2]

To me, one trys to encapsulate all of the following.

M Theory represents eleven dimensions, as a bubble? That's me though. Pelastrian has a very similar perspective All of the physics we know is in there.

Calabi-Yau spaces are important in string theory, where one model posits the geometry of the universe to consist of a ten-dimensional space of the form , where M is a four dimensional manifold (space-time) and V is a six dimensional compact Calabi-Yau space. They are related to Kummer surfaces. Although the main application of Calabi-Yau spaces is in theoretical physics, they are also interesting from a purely mathematical standpoint. Consequently, they go by slightly different names, depending mostly on context, such as Calabi-Yau manifolds or Calabi-Yau varieties.

http://mathworld.wolfram.com/Calabi-YauSpace.html

One would have to understand how the symmetry arises in the equations?

 

[humanino]

I would advise not to begin by this technical subject. I am not sure it that important any more.

Do you know the recent : "A First Course in String Theory" Barton Zwiebach, Cambridge University Press 2004 ? http://titles.cambridge.org/catalogue.asp?isbn=0521831431
I am not a specialist, but I would advise to begin by this, IMHO very good and up-to-date introductory text.