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*[http://arxiv.org/abs/hep-th/0311044 Resource Letter NSST-1: The Nature and Status of String Theory] by Marolf
see also [[Colloquia]], [[Conformal Field Theory]], [[String theory for non-physicists]]
__FORCETOC__
===books===
[http://press.princeton.edu/titles/8456.html '''String Theory in a nutshell''']<br>
by Elias Kiritsis, (Princeton University Press, 2007, [http://users.physics.uoc.gr/~kiritsis/string-book/index.html Errata])<br>
This book is an up to date presentation of the main parts of modern string theory, targeting
specialized students and postdocs entering or working in string theory.
It contains also a large set of problems, as well as chapters on black-hole microstate counting, matrix models and an extendent
exposition of the AdS/CFT correspondence. 


'''String Theory and M-Theory: A Modern Introduction '''<br>
by Katrin Becker, Melanie Becker and John Schwarz (CUP, 2006)<br>
This is a book that is intended to be a comprehensive introduction to the subject of string theory in a modern fashion, with rather rapid discussions of many modern developments including AdS/CFT. As such, it includes a lot of material with relatively less detailed explanation, which serves its purpose as an introduction very well. However, one does need some further readings to completely understand everything this book is trying to say.


===Books===
'''A First Course in String Theory'''<br>
by Barton Zwiebach, (CUP, 2003)<br>
This book is intended for the advanced undergraduate or beginning graduate level.  No familiarity with quantum field theory is assumed (although Zwiebach does assume a working knowledge of quantum mechanics).  It focuses on the study of single
strings and their interactions, which can be understood in some
detail. Of necessity, however, it is impossible to address many
advanced topics.


*[http://motls.blogspot.com/2006/11/string-theory-textbooks.html Lubos review of string theory text books]
'''String Theory'''<br>
'''Volume 1: An Introduction to the Bosonic String'''<br>
'''Volume 2: Superstring Theory and Beyond'''<br>
by Joe Polchinski (two volumes, CUP, 1998, [http://www.kitp.ucsb.edu/~joep/errata.html errata])<br>
This book addresses the discoveries of the
superstring revolutions of the early to mid 1990s, which mark the
beginnings of modern string theory.  Volume 1 quantises the
bosonic string and uses this setting to introduce T-duality and
D-branes without the complications of fermions. The first three chapters of volume 2
introduce superstrings, but quickly move beyond. The rest of
the second book provides an introduction to nearly all modern string
topics pre-dating the AdS/CFT duality.  In particular, it includes D-branes,
Orbifolds, Black Hole Entropy, and Mirror symmetry.<br>
Some of the errata were corrected in the reprinting in 2000.<br>
[http://arxiv.org/abs/0812.4408 A solution manual for Polchinski&#x27;s &quot;String Theory&quot;]<br>
by Matthew Headrick (0812.4408 [hep-th], 114 pages)


*''String Theory'' by Joe Polchinski, two volumes, CUP, 1998: There are [http://www.kitp.ucsb.edu/~joep/errata.html corrections] listed on the [http://www.kitp.ucsb.edu/~joep/bigbook.html Big Book of String homepage] on [http://www.kitp.ucsb.edu/~joep/ Polchinski's homepage].  Some of these corrections were made to the reprinting in 2000.
'''Superstring Theory'''<br>
**''Volume 1: An Introduction to the Bosonic String''
'''Volume 1: Introduction'''<br>
**''Volume 2: Superstring Theory and Beyond''
'''Volume 2: Loop Amplitudes, Anomalies and Phenomenology'''<br>
*''Superstring Theory'' by Michael Green, John Schwarz and Edward Witten, two volumes, CUP, 1988
by Michael Green, John Schwarz and Edward Witten (two volumes, CUP, 1988)<br>
**''Volume 1: Introduction''
Volume 1 is the first of a classic two-volume string text by founders in the field.    Though there are now many more modern
**''Volume 2: Loop Amplitudes, Anomalies and Phenomenology''
texts, it containing many details that more recent texts
*''String Theory and M-Theory'' by Katrin Becker, Melanie Becker and John Schwarz, CUP 2006
must skim through to discuss modern topics.  Volume 1 is concerned mainly with the free string, though it treats both bosonic and supersymmetric versions.  Volume 2 addresses the details of loop
*''A First Course in String Theory'' by Barton Zwiebach, CUP
calculations, but also discusses low-energy effective theories (in particular, supergravity) and compactifications (especially on Calabi-Yau manifolds).
*''Supersymmetry and String Theory: Beyond the Standard Model'' by Michael Dine, CUP 2007
*''Gravity and Strings'' by Tom&aacute;s Ort&iacute;n, CUP 2004


'''Supersymmetry and String Theory: Beyond the Standard Model'''<br>
by Michael Dine (CUP, 2007)


===Reviews===
'''Gravity and Strings'''<br>
by Tom&aacute;s Ort&iacute;n (CUP, 2004)


*D'Hoker
[http://arxiv.org/abs/hep-th/9709062 Introduction to Superstring Theory]<br>
by E. Kiritsis (Leuven University Press, 1998, hep-th/9709062, 244 pages, 22 figures)<br>
Also available from the arXiv.  Kiritsis provides a pedagogical introduction starting with the point particle and the bosonic string, and
then proceeds through conformal
field theory and the superstring.  Advanced topics treated include T- duality, anomalies, compactification and supersymmetry breaking,
loop corrections, and non-perturbative dualities.
 
'''Lectures on String Theory'''<br>
by D. L&uuml;st and S. Theisen (Springer-Verlag, 1989)<br>
This very useful text features a short route to the superstring and includes an excellent treatment of the heterotic string.
 
'''Quantum Field Theory of Point Particles and Strings'''<br>
by B. Hatfield (Perseus Publishing, 1998)<br>
An updated version of Hatfield's 1992 book, the first half quickly reviews quantum field theory while the second introduces the very basics of strings.
 
'''Gauge fields and Strings'''<br>
by A. M. Polyakov (Harwood Academic Publishers, 1987)<br>
This classic work uses a detailed treatment of quantum field theory in terms of first-quantized particles to make a natural transition to the first quantized string.  Details of path-integral measures and other fundamentals are well-presented.
 
'''Introduction to Superstrings and M-Theory'''<br>
by M. Kaku (Springer Verlag, 1999)<br>
This updated version of an earlier text begins with the basics and, after some development, addresses advanced topics such as compactifications and M-theory.  As a one-volume text, it cannot be comprehensive and, as a result, has a rather light discussion of D-branes.
 
'''Strings, Conformal Fields, and M-Theory'''<br>
by M. Kaku (Springer Verlag, 2000)<br>
The intent of this text is to build on ''Introduction to Superstrings and M-theory'', addressing a number of more modern topics and illustrating the relationship to a broad range of related topics.
 
===reviews===
[http://www.thphys.uni-heidelberg.de/~weigand/Skript-strings11-12/Strings.pdf Introduction to String Theory]<br>
by Timo Weigand<br>
Based on Winter term 2011/12 lectures at Heidelberg University.
 
[http://arxiv.org/abs/1107.3967 An Introduction to String Theory]<br>
by James Bedford (1107.3967 [hep-th], 100 pages)<br>
Based on DAMTP Part III lectures by Michael Green in 2003.
 
[http://www.damtp.cam.ac.uk/user/tong/string.html DAMTP Part III 2009 Lectures on String Theory]<br>
by David Tong
 
[http://arxiv.org/abs/0809.1036 String Theory: A Framework for Quantum Gravity and Various Applications]<br>
by Spenta R. Wadia (0809.1036, 38 pages, 5 figures)
 
[http://arxiv.org/abs/0808.0663 Introductory Lectures on String Theory]<br>
by A.A. Tseytlin (0808.0663, 38 pages, 21 figures)
 
[http://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0605105 Superstring theories]<br>
by Constantin Bachas, Jan Troost (physics/0605105, 12 pages, 5 figures)<br>
concise review for Encyclopedia of Mathematical Physics (Elsevier, 2006)
 
[http://www.math.ias.edu/QFT/spring/ String Theory]<br>
by Eric D'Hoker (downloadable from the [http://www.math.ias.edu/QFT/spring/ Quantum Field Theory program at IAS: Spring Term 1997])
 
[http://arxiv.org/abs/hep-th/9703136 Les Houches Lectures on Fields, Strings and Duality]<br>
by R. Dijkgraaf (hep-th/9703136, 152 pages, 31 figures)
 
[http://arxiv.org/abs/hep-th/9708130 Introduction to Non-perturbative String Theory]<br>
by Elias Kiritsis (hep-th/9708130, 60 pages, 4 figures)
 
[http://arxiv.org/abs/hep-th/9810240 String Primer]<br>
by E. Alvarez and P. Meessen (hep-th/9810240, 87 pages, 4 figures)
 
[http://arxiv.org/abs/hep-th/9612254 TASI Lectures on Perturbative String Theories]<br>
by Hirosi Ooguri, Zheng Yin (hep-th/9612254, 80 pages)
 
[http://arxiv.org/abs/hep-th/9411028 What is String Theory?]<br>
by Joseph Polchinski (hep-th/9411028, 153 pages, 30 figures)
 
[http://arxiv.org/abs/hep-th/0302147 An Introduction to the Covariant Quantization of Superstrings]<br>
by P.A. Grassi, G. Policastro, P. van Nieuwenhuizen (hep-th/0302147, 23 pages)
 
[http://arxiv.org/abs/hep-th/0211111 Lectures on Two-Loop Superstrings]<br>
by Eric D'Hoker, D.H. Phong (hep-th/0211111, 37 pages, 3 figures)
 
[http://arxiv.org/abs/hep-th/0209059 ICTP Lectures on Covariant Quantization of the Superstring]<br>
by Nathan Berkovits (hep-th/0209059, 43 pages)
 
[http://arxiv.org/abs/hep-th/0204089 Open Strings]<br>
by Carlo Angelantonj, Augusto Sagnotti (hep-th/0204089, 156 pages)
 
[http://arxiv.org/abs/hep-th/0201209 TASI Lectures on Perturbative String Theory and Ramond-Ramond Flux]<br>
by L. Dolan (hep-th/0201209, 39 pages)
 
[http://arxiv.org/abs/hep-th/9910156 An Introduction to Conformal Field Theory]<br>
by Matthias R Gaberdiel (hep-th/9910156, 69 pages)
 
[http://arxiv.org/abs/hep-th/9604123 A New Description of the Superstring]<br>
by Nathan Berkovits (hep-th/9604123)
 
[http://arxiv.org/abs/hep-th/9709062 Introduction to Superstring Theory]<br>
by E. Kiritsis (hep-th/9709062, 244 pages, 22 figures)<br>
Also available as a [[#book|book]].  Kiritsis provides a pedagogical introduction starting with the point particle and the bosonic string, and
then proceeds through conformal
field theory and the superstring.  Advanced topics treated include T- duality, anomalies, compactification and supersymmetry breaking,
loop corrections, and non-perturbative dualities.
 
[http://arxiv.org/abs/hep-th/9802051 An Introduction to Non-perturbative String Theory]<br>
by Ashoke Sen (hep-th/9802051, 129 pages, 22 figures)
 
[http://arxiv.org/abs/hep-ex/0008017 Introduction to Superstring Theory]<br>
by John H. Schwarz (hep-ex/0008017, 44 pages)
 
[http://arxiv.org/abs/hep-th/0110055 Strings, Branes and Extra Dimensions]<br>
by Stefan Forste (hep-th/0110055, 238 pages)
 
[http://arxiv.org/abs/hep-th/0212114 String Theory or Field Theory?]<br>
by A. Marshakov (hep-th/0212114, 56 pages, 18 figures)
 
[http://arxiv.org/abs/hep-th/0210224 String theory: an update]<br>
by Jan de Boer (hep-th/0210224, 20 pages, 2 figures)
 
[http://arxiv.org/abs/hep-th/0207249 Introduction to String Theory]<br>
by Thomas Mohaupt (hep-th/0207249, 78 pages)
 
[http://arxiv.org/abs/hep-th/0207142 BUSSTEPP Lectures on String Theory]<br>
by Richard J. Szabo (hep-th/0207142, 90 pages, 24 figures)
 
[http://arxiv.org/abs/gr-qc/0205036 Introduction to M-theory for relativists and cosmologists]<br>
by Nobuyoshi Ohta (gr-qc/0205036, 28 pages, 7 figures)
 
[http://arxiv.org/abs/hep-th/0010046 Topics on Strings, Branes and Calabi-Yau Compactifications]<br>
by Hugo Garcia-Compean, Oscar Loaiza-Brito (hep-th/0010046, 50 pages, no figures)
 
[http://arxiv.org/abs/hep-th/0003019 Lectures on Strings, D-branes and Gauge Theories]<br>
by Hugo Garcia-Compean, Oscar Loaiza-Brito (hep-th/0003019, 38 pages, no figures)
 
[http://arxiv.org/abs/hep-th/9906108 An introduction to perturbative and non-perturbative string theory]<br>
by Ignatios Antoniadis, Guillaume Ovarlez (hep-th/9906108, 17 pages)
 
[http://arxiv.org/abs/hep-th/9811101 Supergravity, Brane Dynamics and String Duality]<br>
by P. West (hep-th/9811101, 109 pages, 2 figures)
 
[http://arxiv.org/abs/hep-th/9811019 Introduction to M Theory]<br>
by Miao Li (hep-th/9811019, 76 pages)
 
[http://arxiv.org/abs/hep-th/9810240 String Primer]<br>
by E. Alvarez, P. Meessen (hep-th/9810240, 87 pages, 4 figures)
 
[http://arxiv.org/abs/hep-th/9702201 Lectures on Strings and Dualities]<br>
by Cumrun Vafa (hep-th/9702201, 53 pages)
 
[http://arxiv.org/abs/hep-th/9711102 Fields, Strings and Branes]<br>
by C. Gomez, R. Hernandez (hep-th/9711102, 176 pages, 6 figures)
 
[http://arxiv.org/abs/hep-th/9703136 Les Houches Lectures on Fields, Strings and Duality]<br>
by R. Dijkgraaf (hep-th/9703136, 152 pages, 31 figures)
 
[http://gesalerico.ft.uam.es/paginaspersonales/angeluranga/firstpage.html Introduction to String Theory]<br>
by Angel Uranga (Graduate Course in String Theory, 528 pages)
 
[http://www.strings.ph.qmul.ac.uk/~busstepp/lectures/mukhi/lectures/busstepp.pdf String Theory]<br>
by Sunil Mukhi (BUSSTEPP 2003 Lectures, 147 pages). Downloadable from [http://www.strings.ph.qmul.ac.uk/~busstepp/ BUSSTEPP 2003 Website]
 
[http://www.arxiv.org/abs/0704.0101 The birth of string theory]<br>
by Paolo Di Vecchia (0704.0101, 60 pages)<br>
Covers developments that in the years 1968 to 1974 led from the Veneziano model to the bosonic string.

Latest revision as of 10:14, 5 October 2013

see also Colloquia, Conformal Field Theory, String theory for non-physicists

books

String Theory in a nutshell
by Elias Kiritsis, (Princeton University Press, 2007, Errata)
This book is an up to date presentation of the main parts of modern string theory, targeting specialized students and postdocs entering or working in string theory. It contains also a large set of problems, as well as chapters on black-hole microstate counting, matrix models and an extendent exposition of the AdS/CFT correspondence.

String Theory and M-Theory: A Modern Introduction
by Katrin Becker, Melanie Becker and John Schwarz (CUP, 2006)
This is a book that is intended to be a comprehensive introduction to the subject of string theory in a modern fashion, with rather rapid discussions of many modern developments including AdS/CFT. As such, it includes a lot of material with relatively less detailed explanation, which serves its purpose as an introduction very well. However, one does need some further readings to completely understand everything this book is trying to say.

A First Course in String Theory
by Barton Zwiebach, (CUP, 2003)
This book is intended for the advanced undergraduate or beginning graduate level. No familiarity with quantum field theory is assumed (although Zwiebach does assume a working knowledge of quantum mechanics). It focuses on the study of single strings and their interactions, which can be understood in some detail. Of necessity, however, it is impossible to address many advanced topics.

String Theory
Volume 1: An Introduction to the Bosonic String
Volume 2: Superstring Theory and Beyond
by Joe Polchinski (two volumes, CUP, 1998, errata)
This book addresses the discoveries of the superstring revolutions of the early to mid 1990s, which mark the beginnings of modern string theory. Volume 1 quantises the bosonic string and uses this setting to introduce T-duality and D-branes without the complications of fermions. The first three chapters of volume 2 introduce superstrings, but quickly move beyond. The rest of the second book provides an introduction to nearly all modern string topics pre-dating the AdS/CFT duality. In particular, it includes D-branes, Orbifolds, Black Hole Entropy, and Mirror symmetry.
Some of the errata were corrected in the reprinting in 2000.
A solution manual for Polchinski's "String Theory"
by Matthew Headrick (0812.4408 [hep-th], 114 pages)

Superstring Theory
Volume 1: Introduction
Volume 2: Loop Amplitudes, Anomalies and Phenomenology
by Michael Green, John Schwarz and Edward Witten (two volumes, CUP, 1988)
Volume 1 is the first of a classic two-volume string text by founders in the field. Though there are now many more modern texts, it containing many details that more recent texts must skim through to discuss modern topics. Volume 1 is concerned mainly with the free string, though it treats both bosonic and supersymmetric versions. Volume 2 addresses the details of loop calculations, but also discusses low-energy effective theories (in particular, supergravity) and compactifications (especially on Calabi-Yau manifolds).

Supersymmetry and String Theory: Beyond the Standard Model
by Michael Dine (CUP, 2007)

Gravity and Strings
by Tomás Ortín (CUP, 2004)

Introduction to Superstring Theory
by E. Kiritsis (Leuven University Press, 1998, hep-th/9709062, 244 pages, 22 figures)
Also available from the arXiv. Kiritsis provides a pedagogical introduction starting with the point particle and the bosonic string, and then proceeds through conformal field theory and the superstring. Advanced topics treated include T- duality, anomalies, compactification and supersymmetry breaking, loop corrections, and non-perturbative dualities.

Lectures on String Theory
by D. Lüst and S. Theisen (Springer-Verlag, 1989)
This very useful text features a short route to the superstring and includes an excellent treatment of the heterotic string.

Quantum Field Theory of Point Particles and Strings
by B. Hatfield (Perseus Publishing, 1998)
An updated version of Hatfield's 1992 book, the first half quickly reviews quantum field theory while the second introduces the very basics of strings.

Gauge fields and Strings
by A. M. Polyakov (Harwood Academic Publishers, 1987)
This classic work uses a detailed treatment of quantum field theory in terms of first-quantized particles to make a natural transition to the first quantized string. Details of path-integral measures and other fundamentals are well-presented.

Introduction to Superstrings and M-Theory
by M. Kaku (Springer Verlag, 1999)
This updated version of an earlier text begins with the basics and, after some development, addresses advanced topics such as compactifications and M-theory. As a one-volume text, it cannot be comprehensive and, as a result, has a rather light discussion of D-branes.

Strings, Conformal Fields, and M-Theory
by M. Kaku (Springer Verlag, 2000)
The intent of this text is to build on Introduction to Superstrings and M-theory, addressing a number of more modern topics and illustrating the relationship to a broad range of related topics.

reviews

Introduction to String Theory
by Timo Weigand
Based on Winter term 2011/12 lectures at Heidelberg University.

An Introduction to String Theory
by James Bedford (1107.3967 [hep-th], 100 pages)
Based on DAMTP Part III lectures by Michael Green in 2003.

DAMTP Part III 2009 Lectures on String Theory
by David Tong

String Theory: A Framework for Quantum Gravity and Various Applications
by Spenta R. Wadia (0809.1036, 38 pages, 5 figures)

Introductory Lectures on String Theory
by A.A. Tseytlin (0808.0663, 38 pages, 21 figures)

Superstring theories
by Constantin Bachas, Jan Troost (physics/0605105, 12 pages, 5 figures)
concise review for Encyclopedia of Mathematical Physics (Elsevier, 2006)

String Theory
by Eric D'Hoker (downloadable from the Quantum Field Theory program at IAS: Spring Term 1997)

Les Houches Lectures on Fields, Strings and Duality
by R. Dijkgraaf (hep-th/9703136, 152 pages, 31 figures)

Introduction to Non-perturbative String Theory
by Elias Kiritsis (hep-th/9708130, 60 pages, 4 figures)

String Primer
by E. Alvarez and P. Meessen (hep-th/9810240, 87 pages, 4 figures)

TASI Lectures on Perturbative String Theories
by Hirosi Ooguri, Zheng Yin (hep-th/9612254, 80 pages)

What is String Theory?
by Joseph Polchinski (hep-th/9411028, 153 pages, 30 figures)

An Introduction to the Covariant Quantization of Superstrings
by P.A. Grassi, G. Policastro, P. van Nieuwenhuizen (hep-th/0302147, 23 pages)

Lectures on Two-Loop Superstrings
by Eric D'Hoker, D.H. Phong (hep-th/0211111, 37 pages, 3 figures)

ICTP Lectures on Covariant Quantization of the Superstring
by Nathan Berkovits (hep-th/0209059, 43 pages)

Open Strings
by Carlo Angelantonj, Augusto Sagnotti (hep-th/0204089, 156 pages)

TASI Lectures on Perturbative String Theory and Ramond-Ramond Flux
by L. Dolan (hep-th/0201209, 39 pages)

An Introduction to Conformal Field Theory
by Matthias R Gaberdiel (hep-th/9910156, 69 pages)

A New Description of the Superstring
by Nathan Berkovits (hep-th/9604123)

Introduction to Superstring Theory
by E. Kiritsis (hep-th/9709062, 244 pages, 22 figures)
Also available as a book. Kiritsis provides a pedagogical introduction starting with the point particle and the bosonic string, and then proceeds through conformal field theory and the superstring. Advanced topics treated include T- duality, anomalies, compactification and supersymmetry breaking, loop corrections, and non-perturbative dualities.

An Introduction to Non-perturbative String Theory
by Ashoke Sen (hep-th/9802051, 129 pages, 22 figures)

Introduction to Superstring Theory
by John H. Schwarz (hep-ex/0008017, 44 pages)

Strings, Branes and Extra Dimensions
by Stefan Forste (hep-th/0110055, 238 pages)

String Theory or Field Theory?
by A. Marshakov (hep-th/0212114, 56 pages, 18 figures)

String theory: an update
by Jan de Boer (hep-th/0210224, 20 pages, 2 figures)

Introduction to String Theory
by Thomas Mohaupt (hep-th/0207249, 78 pages)

BUSSTEPP Lectures on String Theory
by Richard J. Szabo (hep-th/0207142, 90 pages, 24 figures)

Introduction to M-theory for relativists and cosmologists
by Nobuyoshi Ohta (gr-qc/0205036, 28 pages, 7 figures)

Topics on Strings, Branes and Calabi-Yau Compactifications
by Hugo Garcia-Compean, Oscar Loaiza-Brito (hep-th/0010046, 50 pages, no figures)

Lectures on Strings, D-branes and Gauge Theories
by Hugo Garcia-Compean, Oscar Loaiza-Brito (hep-th/0003019, 38 pages, no figures)

An introduction to perturbative and non-perturbative string theory
by Ignatios Antoniadis, Guillaume Ovarlez (hep-th/9906108, 17 pages)

Supergravity, Brane Dynamics and String Duality
by P. West (hep-th/9811101, 109 pages, 2 figures)

Introduction to M Theory
by Miao Li (hep-th/9811019, 76 pages)

String Primer
by E. Alvarez, P. Meessen (hep-th/9810240, 87 pages, 4 figures)

Lectures on Strings and Dualities
by Cumrun Vafa (hep-th/9702201, 53 pages)

Fields, Strings and Branes
by C. Gomez, R. Hernandez (hep-th/9711102, 176 pages, 6 figures)

Les Houches Lectures on Fields, Strings and Duality
by R. Dijkgraaf (hep-th/9703136, 152 pages, 31 figures)

Introduction to String Theory
by Angel Uranga (Graduate Course in String Theory, 528 pages)

String Theory
by Sunil Mukhi (BUSSTEPP 2003 Lectures, 147 pages). Downloadable from BUSSTEPP 2003 Website

The birth of string theory
by Paolo Di Vecchia (0704.0101, 60 pages)
Covers developments that in the years 1968 to 1974 led from the Veneziano model to the bosonic string.

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