When Was String Theory First Formulated?

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SUMMARY

String theory was first formulated in 1968 with Gabriele Veneziano's proposal of Veneziano's formula, which aimed to unify General Relativity and electromagnetism by introducing a fifth dimension. The initial development of string theory focused on the strong force, also known as hadronics. In 1974, John Schwarz and Joël Scherk advanced the concept further by proposing string theory as a theory of everything (TOE) that unifies all four fundamental forces. The historical context and evolution of string theory are discussed in colloquium presentations by Veneziano and Schwarz.

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  • Understanding of General Relativity
  • Familiarity with electromagnetism
  • Basic knowledge of quantum field theory
  • Concept of higher dimensions in physics
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  • Research Gabriele Veneziano's formula and its implications in string theory
  • Explore the contributions of John Schwarz and Joël Scherk to string theory
  • Study the relationship between string theory and the unification of forces
  • Investigate the role of higher dimensions in theoretical physics
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Physicists, theoretical researchers, and students interested in the foundations of string theory and its historical development.

jcsd
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How and from what was string theory first formulated? I have heard that it was somehow connected with the attempt to unify General relativity and electromagnetism by introducing a fifth dimension, but I know little about the logical process which gave rise to string theory.
 
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A string theory for the strong force (hadronics) came first.

String theorists talk fondly about the history of their subject. Here are two colloquium audio files with their overhead slides.

The Beginning of String Theory or: How Nature Deceived Us in the Sixties
Dr. Gabriele Veneziano, CERN/TH & KITP --->

http://online.itp.ucsb.edu/online/colloq/veneziano1/

Early History of String Theory: A Personal Perspective
Dr. John Schwarz, Caltech --->

http://online.itp.ucsb.edu/online/colloq/schwarz1/
 
I think that Ambitwistor made a typo; was in 1968 and not in 1986 when Veneziano proposed his formula: Veneziano's formula
In my notes I have that the first people that proposed string theory like a theory of unification of the 4 forces, a TOE, were Schwarz and Scherk in 1974
 
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