Preschool Lectures: (July 21~22)


An Outline of String Theory -- Miao Li (ITP, Beijing) [ppt]
July 21 (Thur) 4:20PM & July 22 (Fri) 4:10PM (R833)

Summer School Lectures: (July 25~29)

Topics and Speakers:

Abstracts and Notes:


Introduction to noncommutative geometry in string and field theory -- Chong-Sun Chu (Durham) [pdf]

I start with a basic introduction to D-brane and explaining how noncommutative geometry arises in string theory. Then we will explore the properties of noncommutative field theory. The emphasis will be on the novel aspects in contrast to the usual local quantum field theory. Applications of noncommutative geometry to other areas such as tachyon condensation and AdS/CFT will be discussed.

Lectures:
1. origin of noncommutative geometry in string theory (1 hour)
2. Novel properties of noncommutative field theories (2 hours)
3. Applications of noncommutative geometry: e.g.  D-brane and tachyon condensation (1 hour)

Introduction to matrix model and non-critical string theory -- Akikazu Hashimoto (Wisconsin) [pdf]

In these lectures, I will review Liouville theory as string theory in non-critical dimensions, matrix model formulations of these string theories, and recent developments in supersymmetric non-critical string theories and D-branes. Topics will include ground ring relations, large N techniques, integrability, FZZT and ZZ branes, open/closed string duality, and topological gravity.

Exact solutions in supergravity theory -- James Liu (Michigan) [pdf-1] [pdf-2] [pdf-3] [pdf-4]

I will begin with an introduction to supergravity, focusing on theories in 10 and 11 dimensions, which are closely connected to string theory. Of particular interest are supergravity configurations preserving some fraction of supersymmetry. These include typical string backgrounds such as Calabi-Yau spaces as well as gravitational objects such as supergravity p-branes and BPS black holes. I will discuss the construction and classification of such BPS solutions, focusing especially on the analysis of the Killing spinor equations and holonomy in supergravity.

Lectures:
1. Introduction and overview of supergravity
2. Conditions for unbroken supersymmetry; holonomy and generalized holonomy
3. BPS black holes and branes
4. Towards a classification of all supersymmetric vacua

The black hole information paradox -- Samir Mathur (Ohio State) [link]

We will start by understanding Hawking radiation from black holes, and why this creates a conflict with quantum mechanics. We will review how string theory leads to an understanding of black hole entropy. We will then ask: What is the internal structure of a black hole? We will construct the microstates for 2-charge black holes, and also see how some microstates for 3-charge holes can be constructed. We will try to extend the lessons learnt here to conjecture how generic black holes would behave like `fuzzballs' where the entire region inside  the `horizon' is nontrivial and carries the information of the black hole state.

Intersecting branes -- Rodolfo Russo (CERN) [pdf]

D-branes provide a natural framework for realizing in string theory two main building blocks of the Standard model: non-abelian gauge symmetries and chiral fermions. We start by showing how these features arise naturally in configurations with intersecting D-branes (or, in the T-dual language, D-branes with fluxes). Then we discuss tree-level (disk) string amplitudes and show how to derive the low energy effective action from string computations. Finally we will discuss some possible phenomenological applications of this string constructions.

Lectures:
1. Intersecting D-branes: the main features (2 hours)
2. From string interactions to the low energy effective action (1 hour)
3. Model building with intersecting D-branes (1 hour)

Branes and fluxes in string theory and M-theory -- Washington Taylor (MIT) [pdf]

We begin with an overview (no technical details) of the current status of string theory: perturbative string theories, dualities, D-branes,M-theory and nonperturbative formulations of string theory.  D-branes are then described in more detail from the points of view of 10D supergravity and perturbative string theory. Fluxes on D-branes are introduced and used to show how D-branes of one dimension can describe D-branes of another dimension.Finally, fluxes in supergravity are introduced and used to stabilize moduli of string compactifications.

Lectures:
1.overview (1 hour)
2.basic D-branes (1 hour)
3.fluxes on D-branes (1 hour)
4.flux compactifications (1 hour)

Seminars:

K. Furuta (RIKEN) [pdf]

H. Y. Chen (Cambridge) [pdf]

W. F. Chen (NCTS) [pdf]

Talent Show:

 
Noh Play (Shunsuke Teraguchi)

 
Guitar (Hsien-chung Kao)

Cello (Xueyan Lin) Unfortunately there is no photo for this performance because the photographer is playing cello.

Post-shool activities: (Aug. 1~5)

Post-school mentoring sessions -- Edna Cheung and Konstantin Savvidy (Perimeter)

Turning an idea into equations is an art that can be learned, but is never taught in the classroom. In these sessions we will try to help the students to make the jump from a question to a research project. We will break up into small groups, and each group will choose a question to think about based on the interest of the participants. The question could be chosen from any area of theoretical physics, and we will work together to turn it into a well defined and simple research project. At the end, the participants will make a 30 minute presentation later this summer.

Seminars: We will have seminars on Aug. 1 and Aug. 3. Click here to see the schedule.

The purpose of the school is to introduce recent developments in string theory to beginners.

The school will be held in R112 at the New Physics Building in National Taiwan University.

The summer school is part of the 2005 Taipei summer institute.

Click here for the poster of the summer school (PowerPoint format).

Sponsors:
National Center for Theoretical Sciences (NCTS)
Asia Pacific Center for Theoretical Physics (APCTP)
Center for Theoretical Physics, NTU
Department of Physics, NTU

Organizers:
Chuan-Tsung Chan (NCTS)
Chiang-Mei Chen (National Central University)
Wenfeng Chen (NCTS)
Chong-Sun Chu (Durham University)
Pei-Ming Ho (National Taiwan University)
Hsien-Chung Kao (National Taiwan Normal University)
Yeong-Chuan Kao (National Taiwan University)
Jen-Chi Lee (National Chiao-Tung University)
Feng-Li Lin (National Taiwan Normal University)

Please email to Pei-Ming Ho for inquiries.