TASI Lectures on Perturbative String Theory and Ramond-Ramond Flux

TL;DR

This paper introduces perturbative string theory with Ramond flux backgrounds, discussing covariant quantization, vertex operators, and applications to anti-de Sitter spaces, providing foundational insights for string theory in flux backgrounds.

Contribution

It presents a comprehensive review of covariant quantization methods for superstrings in Ramond flux backgrounds and explores their applications to AdS spaces.

Findings

Covariant quantization of superstrings in six and ten dimensions.

Explicit computation of correlation functions with Ramond flux.

Analysis of string dynamics in AdS backgrounds with flux.

Abstract

These lectures provide an introduction to perturbative string theory and its construction on spaces with background Ramond flux. Traditional covariant quantization of the string and its connection with vertex operators and conformal invariance of the worldsheet theory are reviewed. A supersymmetric covariant quantization of the superstring in six and ten spacetime dimensions is discussed. Correlation functions are computed with these variables. Applications to strings in anti-de Sitter backgrounds with Ramond flux are analyzed. Based on lectures presented at the Theoretical Advanced Study Institute TASI 2001, June 3-29, 2001.