M. HERMITE'S LECTURES

Lectures on Heterotic M-Theory

We present three lectures on heterotic M -theory and a fourth lecture extending this theory to more general orbifolds. In Lecture 1, Hořava-Witten theory is briefly discussed. We then compactify this theory on Calabi-Yau threefolds, choosing the “standard” embedding of the spin connection in the gauge connection. We derive, in detail, both the five-dimensional effective action and the associate...

Lectures

Lectures on Superstring and M Theory Dualities

These lectures begin by reviewing the evidence for S duality of the toroidally compactified heterotic string in 4d that was obtained in the period 1992–94. Next they review recently discovered dualities that relate all five of the 10d superstring theories and a quantum extension of 11d supergravity called M theory. The study of p-branes of various dimensions (some of which are D-branes) plays a...

TASI Lectures on M Theory Phenomenology

These lectures discuss some of the general issues in developing a phenomenology for Superstring Theory/M Theory. The focus is on the question: how might one obtain robust, generic predictions. For example, does the theory predict low energy supersymmetry breaking? In the course of these explorations, basics of supersymmetry and supersymmetry breaking, string moduli, cosmological issues, and oth...

Four Lectures on M-theory A

Synopsis: (i) how superstring theories are unified by M-theory; (ii) how superstring and supermembrane properties follow from the D=10 and D=11 supersymmetry algebras; (iii) how D=10 and D=11 supergravity theories determine the strong coupling limit of superstring theories; (iv) how properties of type II p-branes follow from those of M-branes. Over the decade from 1984-94 superstring theory cam...