Program Prerequisites

2008 Program
Suggested
Pre-Reading List
(REVISED as of June 20, 2008)

In addition to the General Suggested Preliminary Pre-Readings we posted 4/1/08 (see below), our lecturers have each now provided a follow-up list of background readings:

Pre-readings for the lectures presented by NIMA ARKANI-HAMED:

To be announced

Pre-readings for the lectures presented by LUIS IBANEZ:

F. Marchesano, "Progress in D-Brane Model Building," hep-th/0702094

R. Blumenhagen, M. Cvetic, P. Langacker, and G. Shiu, "Toward Realistic Intersecting D-Brane Models," e-Print: hep-th/0502005

R. Blumenhagen, B. Kors, D. Lust, and S. Stieberger, "Four-dimensional String Compactifications with D-Branes, Orientifolds and Fluxes," e-Print: hep-th/0610327

Pre-readings for the lectures presented by SHAMIT KACHRU:

S. Kachru, R. Kallosh, A. Linde, and S. Trivedi, "de Sitter Vacua in String Theory," e-Print: hep-th/0301240

M. Douglas and S. Kachru, "Flux Compactification," e-Print: hep-th/0610102

L. McAllister and E. Silverstein, "String Cosmology: A Review," arXiv:0710.2951

Pre-readings for the lectures presented by HANS-PETER NILLES:

S. Forste, H.P. Nilles, P. Vaudrevange, and A. Wingerter, "Heterotic Brane World," hep-th/0406208

H.P. Nilles, Physics Reports, 110:1-162 (1984), sections on SUSY breakdown

H.P. Nilles, "Gaugino Condensation and SUSY Breakdown" (Cargese lectures), hep-th/0402022

K. Choi and H.P. Nilles, "The Gaugino Code," e-Print: hep-ph/0702146

S. Kachru, R. Kallosh, A. Linde, and S. Trivedi, "de Sitter Vacua in String Theory," e-Print: hep-th/0301240

Pre-readings for the lectures presented by STUART RABY:

S. Raby, SUSY GUT review in the Particle Data Book, http://pdg.lbl.gov/2007/reviews/gutsrpp.pdf

S. Raby, "Desperately Seeking Supersymmetry (SUSY)," http://arxiv.org/PS_cache/hep-ph/pdf/0401/0401155v2.pdf

S. Raby, "Introduction to Theories of Fermion Masses," http://arxiv.org/PS_cache/hep-ph/pdf/9501/9501349v1.pdf
The figures are attached in a separate file.

Pre-readings for the lectures presented by JOHN SCHWARZ:

See "General Suggested Preliminary Pre-Readings" listed below.

Pre-readings for the lectures presented by HERMAN VERLINDE:

Tasi lectures on D-branes, Joseph Polchinski (Santa Barbara, KITP), e-print: hep-th/9611050

Chapters 15 and 16 of Volume 2 of Superstring Theory by M.B. Green, J.H. Schwarz and E. Witten (Cambridge University Press, 1987)

Chapter 9 of String Theory and M-theory of Becker, Becker and Schwarz (Cambridge University Press, 2007)

Pre-readings for the lectures presented by EDWARD WITTEN:

Chapters 15 and 16 of Volume 2 of Superstring Theory by M.B. Green, J.H. Schwarz and E. Witten (Cambridge University Pressi, 1987)

Chapter 9 of String Theory and M-theory of Becker, Becker and Schwarz (Cambridge University Press, 2007)

PLUS GENERAL SUGGESTED PRELIMINARY PRE-READINGS FOR "Strings and Phenomenology" (previously posted 4/1/08):

Standard Model:

The Standard Model of particle physics. Any textbook will do. A concise summary of the Standard Model can be found in http://aps.arxiv.org/abs/hep-ph/0304186

Supersymmetry:

Students may want to look at either or both of the two reviews:

Steve Martin, A Supersymmetry Primer http://aps.arxiv.org/abs/hep-ph/9709356

M. Dine, Supersymmetry Phenomenology with a Broad Brush http://aps.arxiv.org/abs/hep-ph/9612389

There are also a number of recent books which cover much of the necessary background material. Students need not rush out to buy these, but if they own them, they might want to read the chapters introducing supersymmetry, supersymmetry breaking, and introducing the MSSM. They may also find useful introductory material on supersymmetry dynamics.

Strings:

Chapters 2-5 of Becker, Becker and Schwarz. Chapters 1-4 of Polchinksi correspond roughly to chapters 2 and 3 of BBS. Also, Chapter 10 of Polchinski corresponds roughly to Chapter 4 of BBS. Any other string theory book can be used too.