Ortín T. Gravity and Strings

Cambridge University Press, 2004. — 684 p. ISBN13: 978-0-521-82475-0 (hardback).One appealing feature of string theory is that it provides a theory of quantum gravity. Gravity and Strings is a self-contained, pedagogical exposition of this theory, its foundations, and its basic results.
In Part I, the foundations are traced back to the very early special-relativistic field theories of gravity, showing how such theories, which are associated with the concept of the graviton, lead to general relativity. Gauge theories of gravity are then discussed and used to introduce supergravity theories.
Part II covers some of the most interesting solutions of general relativity and its generalizations. These include Schwarzschild and Reissner–Nordstr¨om black holes, the Taub–NUT solution, gravitational instantons, and gravitational waves. Kaluza–Klein theories and the uses of residual supersymmetries are discussed in detail.
Part III presents string theory from the effective-action point of view, using the results found earlier in the book as background. The supergravity theories associated with superstrings and M theory are thoroughly studied, and used to describe dualities and classical solutions related to non-pertubative states of these theories.
A brief account of extreme black-hole entropy calculations is also given.
This unique book will be useful as a reference for graduate students and researchers, as well as a complementary textbook for courses on gravity, supergravity, and string theory.Tomás Ortín completed his graduate studies and obtained his Ph.D. at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. He then worked as a postdoctoral student in the Physics Department of Stanford University supported by a Spanish Government grant. Between 1993 and 1995 he was EU Marie Curie postdoctoral fellow in the String Theory Group of the Physics Department of Queen Mary College, University of London, and from 1995 to 1997, he was a Fellow in the Theory Division of CERN. He is currently a Staff Scientist at the Spanish Research Council and a member of the Institute for Theoretical Physics of the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. Dr Ortín has taught several graduate courses on advanced general relativity, supergravity, and strings. His research interests lie in string theory, gravity, quantum gravity, and black-hole physics.