Instructor: Alex Buchel, Perimeter Institute/University of Western Ontario
Type: Guelph-Waterloo Physics Institute & University of Western Ontario credit course
Dates: January 16 - April 30, 2009, Fridays 10:00 am - 1:00 pm at Perimeter Institute, Alice Room

Course Description
This course provides a thorough introduction to the bosonic string based on the Polyakov path integral and conformal field theory. We introduce central ideas of string theory, the tools of conformal field theory, the Polyakov path integral, and the covariant quantization of the string. We discuss string interactions and cover the tree-level and one loop amplitudes. More advanced topics such as T-duality and D-branes will be taught as part of the course.

The course is geared for M.Sc. and Ph.D. students enrolled in Collaborative Ph.D. Program in Theoretical Physics. Required previous course work: Quantum Field Theory (AM516 or equivalent). The course evaluation will be based on regular problem sets that will be handed in during the term.

The primary text is the book:
"String theory. Vol. 1: An introduction to the bosonic string. J.
Polchinski (Santa Barbara, KITP). 1998. 402pp. Cambridge, UK: Univ. Pr. (1998) 402 p."

All interested students should contact Alex Buchel at abuchel@uwo.ca as soon as possible.

Shuttle Service
Transportation may be available on Perimeter Institute’s shuttle van service. For availability and contact information please click here.