Calendar

Lec # Topics Key dates
1 Announcements, Introduction

Lorentz Transformations
2 Light-cone Coordinates, Energy and Momentum
3 Compact Extra Dimensions and Orbifolds

Square Well with Extra Dimension

Relativistic Formulation of Maxwell's Equations
4 Electric Fields in Higher Dimensions

Planckian Units

Gravitational Constants and Compactification
Homework 1 due
5 Large Extra Dimensions

Nonrelativistic Strings and Lagrangian Mechanics
6 Nonrelativistic String Lagrangian

The Relativistic Point Particle: Action, Reparametrization Invariance and Equations of Motion
Homework 2 due
7 Relativistic Strings: Area Functional, Nambu-Goto Action, Equations of Motion and Boundary Conditions Homework 3 due
8 Comments on Schwartz Inequality in a Two-dimensional Minkowski Space

Static Gauge, Transverse Velocity and String Action

Motion of Free Open String Endpoints
9 The σ-Parameterization using the Energy carried by the String

Equations of Motion for Free Open Strings
Homework 4 due four days after lecture 9
10 Circular Motion of an Open String

Periodicity Conditions for the Motion of Closed Strings

The Formation of Cusps

Conserved Currents in E&M

Conserved Charges in Lagrangian Mechanics
11 Conserved Charges in Lagrangian Field Theory

Momentum Charges for the String

Lorentz Charges for the Strings

Angular Momentum of the Rotating String
Homework 5 due four days after lecture 11
12 Discuss α´ and the String Length /s

Begin Chapter 9 - General Gauges: Fixing τ and Natural Units

Associated σ-Parameterization of Open and Closed Strings
Test 1
13 Discuss Test

Finish Chapter 9 - Constraints, Wave Equations, and Mode Expansions

Light-cone Solution of the Equations of Motion
14 Light-cone Fields and Particles

An Action for Scalar Fields

Classical Plane-wave Solutions

Quantum Scalar Fields and Particle States
15 Photon States

Classical Motion of the Particle in the Light-cone Gauge

The Schroedinger and Heisenberg Pictures
Homework 6 due one day after lecture 15
16 Quantization of the Point Particle

Quantum Particle and Scalar Particles

Light-cone Momentum Generators

Light-cone Lorentz Generators
17 Relativistic Quantum Open Strings Homework 7 due one day after lecture 17
18 Relativistic Quantum Open Strings (cont.)

Relativistic Quantum Closed Strings
19 Relativistic Quantum Closed Strings (cont.) Homework 8 due one day after lecture 19
20 Dp-branes and Boundary Conditions

Quantizing Open Strings on Dp-branes

Open Strings between Parallel Dp-branes

Strings between Parallel Dp- and Dq-branes
Homework 9 due four days after lecture 20
21 Fundamental String Charge

Visualizing String Charge

Strings Ending on D-branes
22 T-duality of Closed Strings Homework 10 due four days after lecture 22
23 T-duality of Closed Strings (cont.)
Test 2
24 Electromagnetic Fields on D-branes
25 Nonlinear and Born-Infeld Electrodynamics Project due