String Theory, problems and solutions

You could try to work your way through Zwiebach's A First Course in String Theory. It has lots of easy exercises and more difficult problems, but it doesn't give solutions.

 

I'm not sure if McMahon's "String Theory Demystified" counts as a problem solution book, but according to reviews it's as simple as it gets.

https://www.amazon.com/String-Theor...r_1_11?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1241796414&sr=8-11

 

Sorry didn't know it was that bad. I needed a simple overview once of something in QFT and couldn't find it in that book so I returned it.

 

Polchisnki is the way to go, String Theory Vol 1.

 

There is also another, more advanced introduction, String Theory and M-Theory: A Modern Introduction by Katrin Becker, Melanie Becker, and John H. Schwarz,

https://www.amazon.com/String-Theor...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1226585815&sr=1-1.

From its preface: "The reader is assumed to have some familiarity with quantum field theory and general relativity. It is also very useful to a have broad mathematical background. Group theory is essential, and some knowledge of differential geometry and basic concepts of topology is very desirable."

 

Polchinski certainly has its flaws, but for a lot of people it is still the way to go. The problem with the book is mostly that it's vague and technical at some points - the book is definitely not suitable of the less-technical reader. I don't have much experience with GSW but yea, it is also considered a classic.

Zwiebach is a nice book, but aimed at undergraduates. It hardly treats topics like conformal field theory and a lot (and I do mean a LOT) is left out. This book doesn't (or hardly) requires experience in QFT and GR and it introduces some of this material.

Becker, Becker and Schwarz is also a good choice, but a little less deep than Polchinski. The biggest difference between this book and Polchinski (or Green, Schwarz and Witten) is that it's also a modern book and treats some of the more advanced topics (M-theory, gauge/gravity duality) which do not appear in the older books. This is nice, because it gives you an idea of where modern-day research (i.e. the problems) stands.

If you've had classes in GR and QFT you should skip Zwiebach altogether and start with Becker, Becker, Schwarz if you wanna have a first, decent treatment on String Theory. If you really mean business skip to the more advanced texts such as Polchinski or Green, Schwarz, Witten. The latter books have a fairly steep learning curve though and you'll miss out on the modern day topics. But if you're really serious about learning string theory you eventually end up with these books anyway.

You can also follow the online class on this website (follows Polchinski Vol 1.):

http://www.pirsa.org/C09001

Edit: do note that GSW doesn't have any exercises.

 

Sorry

Has anybody got solution manual to Katrin Becker Melanie Becker John H. Schwarz - String Theory and M-Theory: A Modern Introduction

It would be realy useful.