Selected Topics in Theoretical Particle Physics: Branes and Gauge Theory Dynamics
MIT OpenCourseWare offers this graduate-level physics course on branes in string theory and the dynamics living on their world volumes. Rather than starting from the conformal field theory of the string world-sheet, the course adopts the viewpoint of an observer situated on a brane itself, working out how gauge theory and other physics emerge from that perspective. Topics include the classification of branes, their effective world-volume actions, and the gauge theories that describe brane dynamics in various string theory settings. Materials consist of lecture notes and a reading list covering the primary research literature the course draws on. The course assumes strong prior background in string theory and quantum field theory, and is aimed at doctoral students and researchers rather than newcomers. As with other MIT OCW offerings, all materials are free to use under a Creative Commons license, with no certificate offered.