Best approach to string theory [Archive]

Holger Bomm

Sep25-05, 06:57 PM

<jabberwocky><div class="vbmenu_control"><a href="jabberwocky:;" onClick="newWindow=window.open('','usenetCode','toolbar=no, location=no,scrollbars=yes,resizable=yes,status=no ,width=650,height=400'); newWindow.document.write('<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>Usenet ASCII</TITLE></HEAD><BODY topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 BGCOLOR=#F1F1F1><table border=0 width=625><td bgcolor=midnightblue><font color=#F1F1F1>This Usenet message\'s original ASCII form: </font></td></tr><tr><td width=449><br><br><font face=courier><UL><PRE>Hi!\n\nSo far I haven\'t found any thread dealing with the question of what\nwould be the best approach to string theory for a physics student\nwho wants to learn more about string theory, starting from zero.\n\nObviously, string theory is a "phenomenon" in popular sciences that\nfocuses the interest of the public tremendously and at the same time\nis extremely difficult to handle on a purely scientific level. So I\nthink that the above question is of great importance.\n\nAs a student of physics I would love to know what I should focuse on\nin my studies if I am interested in working on the string theory later\nin my life. Is it easy to find out whether one really has the intel-\nlectual capacity to be working successfully on this field?\n\nThanks in advance for any answers!\n\nBest regards\nHolger\n</UL></PRE></font></td></tr></table></BODY><HTML>');"> <IMG SRC=/images/buttons/ip.gif BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER ALT="View this Usenet post in original ASCII form">  View this Usenet post in original ASCII form </a></div><P></jabberwocky>Hi!

So far I haven't found any thread dealing with the question of what
would be the best approach to string theory for a physics student
who wants to learn more about string theory, starting from zero.

Obviously, string theory is a "phenomenon" in popular sciences that
focuses the interest of the public tremendously and at the same time
is extremely difficult to handle on a purely scientific level. So I
think that the above question is of great importance.

As a student of physics I would love to know what I should focuse on
in my studies if I am interested in working on the string theory later
in my life. Is it easy to find out whether one really has the intel-
lectual capacity to be working successfully on this field?

Thanks in advance for any answers!

Best regards
Holger

Jeff L Jones

Sep29-05, 06:56 AM

<jabberwocky><div class="vbmenu_control"><a href="jabberwocky:;" onClick="newWindow=window.open('','usenetCode','toolbar=no, location=no,scrollbars=yes,resizable=yes,status=no ,width=650,height=400'); newWindow.document.write('<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>Usenet ASCII</TITLE></HEAD><BODY topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 BGCOLOR=#F1F1F1><table border=0 width=625><td bgcolor=midnightblue><font color=#F1F1F1>This Usenet message\'s original ASCII form: </font></td></tr><tr><td width=449><br><br><font face=courier><UL><PRE>Holger Bomm <harvesters_st@ay.out> wrote:\n\n> As a student of physics I would love to know what I should focuse on\n> in my studies if I am interested in working on the string theory later\n> in my life.\n\nTake a lot of math classes in addition to the usual physics classes.\nParticularly useful would be complex analysis, topology, linear algebra,\nabstract algebra, and differential geometry. If you\'re wanting to work\non the more abstract parts of string theory, then also take some algebraic\ntopology or algebraic geometry.\n\nIs it easy to find out whether one really has the intel-\n> lectual capacity to be working successfully on this field?\n\nNo. My impression (as a graduate student, just beginning to learn some\nstring theory) is that most people entering the field will not find this\nout until they\'re at least a postdoc. Maybe a professor. But I suppose\nthere are many chances along the way to realize it\'s *not* going to work\nout!\n\n--\nJeff L Jones\n</UL></PRE></font></td></tr></table></BODY><HTML>');"> <IMG SRC=/images/buttons/ip.gif BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER ALT="View this Usenet post in original ASCII form">  View this Usenet post in original ASCII form </a></div><P></jabberwocky>Holger Bomm <harvesters_st@ay.out> wrote:

> As a student of physics I would love to know what I should focuse on
> in my studies if I am interested in working on the string theory later
> in my life.

Take a lot of math classes in addition to the usual physics classes.
Particularly useful would be complex analysis, topology, linear algebra,
abstract algebra, and differential geometry. If you're wanting to work
on the more abstract parts of string theory, then also take some algebraic
topology or algebraic geometry.

Is it easy to find out whether one really has the intel-
> lectual capacity to be working successfully on this field?

No. My impression (as a graduate student, just beginning to learn some
string theory) is that most people entering the field will not find this
out until they're at least a postdoc. Maybe a professor. But I suppose
there are many chances along the way to realize it's *not* going to work
out!

--
Jeff L Jones