Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Contents
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Introduction
- Part I From Particles to Strings
- 1 Classical Relativistic Point Particles
- 2 Classical Relativistic Strings
- 3 Quantised Relativistic Particles and Strings
- Part II TheWorld-Sheet Perspective
- Part III The Space-Time Perspective
- Part IV Outlook
- Appendix A Notation and Conventions
- Appendix B Units, Constants, and Scales
- Appendix C Fourier Series and Fourier Integrals
- Appendix D Modular Forms and Special Functions
- Appendix E Young Tableaux
- Appendix F Gaussian Integrals and Integral Exponential Function
- Appendix G Lie Algebras, Lie Groups, and Symmetric Spaces
- References
- Index
2 - Classical Relativistic Strings
from Part I - From Particles to Strings
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 31 March 2022
Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Contents
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Introduction
- Part I From Particles to Strings
- 1 Classical Relativistic Point Particles
- 2 Classical Relativistic Strings
- 3 Quantised Relativistic Particles and Strings
- Part II TheWorld-Sheet Perspective
- Part III The Space-Time Perspective
- Part IV Outlook
- Appendix A Notation and Conventions
- Appendix B Units, Constants, and Scales
- Appendix C Fourier Series and Fourier Integrals
- Appendix D Modular Forms and Special Functions
- Appendix E Young Tableaux
- Appendix F Gaussian Integrals and Integral Exponential Function
- Appendix G Lie Algebras, Lie Groups, and Symmetric Spaces
- References
- Index
Summary
Classical strings are introduced through the Nambu–Goto and Polyakov action. D-branes arise through Dirichlet boundary conditions. The conformal gauge and light-cone coordinates are discussed, as well as the relation between symmetries and conservation laws. Explicit solutions to the equations of motion are found for periodic, Neumann, and Dirichlet boundary conditions.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- A Short Introduction to String Theory , pp. 18 - 37Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2022