What are the five string theories?

[and?]

i can not seem to find any good or relevant information on the five different string theories and how they differ from one another. i know of, and to the best of my ability try to understand 'basic' M-theory but am very strapped for info on the other theories and their specifics. if some one could endulge me i'd be very greatful.[?]

 

[Mentat]

Originally posted by and?
i can not seem to find any good or relevant information on the five different string theories and how they differ from one another. i know of, and to the best of my ability try to understand 'basic' M-theory but am very strapped for info on the other theories and their specifics. if some one could endulge me i'd be very greatful.[?]

Well, actually, M-Theory is the combination/unification of the five string theories (along with the introduction of a sixth string theory), through the use of Duality. A good resource on this is Brian Greene's The Elegant Universe.

 

[and?]

OK, what ARE the six theories and their properties? I'd like to receive as much info as possible so i can better my understanding of M-theory and the unification model.

 

[meteor]

To speak properly, they are not string theories, but superstring theories. Type I is the only that admits both closed and open strings, while the other 4 (Type IIA, type IIB, heterotic SO(32) and heterotic E₈XE₈) admit only closed strings. Each of the 5 superstring theories lives in a different background space.Theories related through the T-duality are the two heterotic between them, and the two type II between them. Theories related through the S-duality are Type I with heterotic SO(32), and Type IIB with itself. If you compactify M-theory in a circle (with some additional conditions) you get superstring theory type IIA, and if you compactify M-theory in a line (with some additional conditions)you get heterotic E₈XE₈
Heterotic E₈XE₈ is special in the sense that is the only that postulates the existence of a twin universe of ours called shadow universe or hidden sector. The only interaction permitted between the two universes is the gravitational interaction
If this is not enough ask for more

 

[and?]

good enough

 

[Mentat]

"and?", as I mentioned before, The Elegant Universe is a very good resource for learning about superstring theories. I highly recommend it.