How to start with String Theory

[Breo]

Hello folks,

I want to starting learning the subject this Christmas (Merry Christmas :D) and I am wondering what would be the best way to introduce me to Strings.

I am a masters student in Theoretical Physics.

Best wishes, and many thanks in advance.
Breo.

 

[moriheru]

I would say you take the course in University. If you are not in University then I would suggest Zwiebach " A first course in String theory" (it was suggested to me on a similar thread). After reading Zwiebach you could read the 2 Volumes of Polchinski or Schwarz and Becker(expensive, and I haven't read Becker or Schwarz yet so I can't judge them)... 200 posts :)

 

[Breo]

What do you think about the free notes by t' Hooft and others?

 

[moriheru]

I am sorry but I haven't read them, so I can't say. But if you have a degree in theoretical physics I would say you can defenetly leave out the first chapters of Zwiebach. In chapter 4 he starts with nonrelativistic Strings and goes on to relativistic Strings in chapter 6 and inpart two he describes the developments, black hole entropy and so on.
Sorry, I really don't know of the notes.

 

[ChrisVer]

From free notes, I'd suggest Lust and Theisens' lecture notes...
http://srv2.fis.puc.cl/~mbanados/Cursos/Cuerdas/LustTheisen .pdf

 

[Demystifier]

What do you think about the free notes by t' Hooft and others?

They are a good short introduction. But the best short introduction, in my opinion, is the one by Szabo:
http://lanl.arxiv.org/abs/hep-th/0207142
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1848166222/?tag=pfamazon01-20

 

[moriheru]

They are a good short introduction. But the best short introduction, in my opinion, is the one by Szabo:

Does the Introduction

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1848166222/?tag=pfamazon01-20

include superstrings?

 

[Demystifier]

Does the Introduction include superstrings?

Yes.

 

[haushofer]

I liked the combination of Green,Schwartz,Witten and the notes by Tong. Tong only covers bosonic string theory but gives many intuitive explanations, and adds the CFT which is lacking from GSW (due to historical reasons).

Becker2Schwartz is only nice for the first few chapters; after that it becomes very encyclopedical. Which is useful for looking things up, not for learning. Polchinski I never liked. I used Zwiebach for a Bachelor's course on string theory. Also highly recommended, for creating some intuition. :)

 

[Breo]

Thank you to everyone! And Merry Saturnalias!