Book Description:
String theory is a model of fundamental physics whose building blocks are one-dimensional extended objects called strings, rather than the zero-dimensional point particles that form the basis for the standard model of particle physics. The phrase is often used as shorthand for Superstring theory, as well as related theories such as M-theory. By replacing the point-like particles with strings, an apparently consistent quantum theory of gravity emerges. Moreover, it may be possible to "unify" the known natural forces (gravitational, electromagnetic, weak nuclear and strong nuclear) by describing them with the same set of equations.Studies of string theory have revealed that it predicts higher-dimensional objects called branes. String theory strongly suggests the existence of ten or eleven (in M-theory) spacetime dimensions, as opposed to the usual four (three spatial and one temporal) used in relativity theory; however the theory can describe universes with four effective (observable) spacetime dimensions by a variety of methods.

An important branch of the field is dealing with a conjectured duality between string theory as a theory of gravity and gauge theory. It is hoped that research in this direction will lead to new insights on quantum chromodynamics, the fundamental theory of strong nuclear force.

This new book presents the latest research from around the globe.

Table of Contents:
Preface

Chapter 1 - String Theory and its Application to Noncommulative Gauge Theory; pp. 1-80
(Hidenori Takahashi, College of Science and Technology, Nihon Univ., Japan, Dept. of Dentistry at Matsudo, Nihon Univ., Japan)

Chapter 2 - In Search of the (Minimal Supersymmetric) Standard Model String; pp. 81-131
(Gerald B. Cleaver, Center for Astrophysics, Space Physics & Engineering Research, Dept. of Physics, Baylor Univ., Waco, TX)

Chapter 3 - Introduction to Non-Critical String Theory: Classical and Quantum Aspects (Stanislav Klimenko and Igor Nikitin;
pp. 133-154
(Institute of Computing for Physics and Technology, Protvino, Russia)

Chapter 4 - String Theory with A Continuous Spin Spectrum;
pp. 155-177
(J. Mourad, Laboratoire de Physique Theorique Unit'e Mixte de Recherche du CNRS, Univ. Paris XI, Orsay Cedex, France)

Chapter 5 - The Coulomb Gas Realization of Structure Constants and String Interactions in ADS; pp. 179-194
(Gaston Giribet, Dept. of Physics, Univ. de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Univ., Buenos Aires, Argentina)

Chapter 6 - Special Bibliography on String Theory; pp. 195-225
(John Harrington)

Index pp.227-233