A Lightning Introduction to String Theory

TL;DR

This paper provides a concise overview of critical string theory, covering bosonic, super, heterotic strings, open strings, D-branes, and orientifold constructions in ten dimensions.

Contribution

It offers a quick, comprehensive introduction to various key aspects of string theory, including recent developments like D-branes and orientifolds.

Findings

Summarizes critical string theories in various dimensions.

Introduces open strings, D-branes, and orientifold constructions.

Provides foundational knowledge for further research in string theory.

Abstract

We give a lightning introduction to critical string theory, including the 26-dimensional bosonic string, the 10-dimensional superstrings and heterotic strings with and without spacetime supersymmetry. We also discuss open strings and D-branes, as well as the orientifold constructions, in ten dimensions.