The book includes a selection of papers on the construction of superstring theories, mainly written during the years 1984-1987. It covers ten-dimensional supersymmetric and non-supersymmetric strings, four-dimensional heterotic strings and four-dimensional type-II strings. An introduction to more recent developments in conformal field theory in relation to string construction is provided.
Preface.
1. Introduction.
2. Conformal Field Theory for String
Compactifications.
3. The Birth of Superstrings. Contributors: F. Gliozzi,
M.B. Green, D.J. Gross, J.A. Harvey, E. Martinec, D. Olive, R. Rohm, J.
Scherk, J.H. Schwarz.
4. Non-Supersymmetric Ten-Dimensional Strings.
Contributors: L. Alvarez-Gaume, L.J. Dixon, P. Ginsparg, J.A. Harvey, H.
Kawai, W. Lerche, D. Lewellen, D. Lust, G. Moore, A.N. Schellekens, N.
Seiberg, S.H. Tye, C. Vafa, E. Witten.
5. Four-Dimensional Heterotic Strings.
Contributors: I. Antoniadis, C.P. Bachas, L. Dixon, D. Gepner, J.A. Harvey,
L.E. Iba#ez, H. Kawai, C. Kounnas, W. Lerche, D.C. Lewellen, D. Lust, M.
Mueller, K.S. Narain, H.P. Nilles, F. Quevedo, M.H. Sarmadi, A.N.
Schellekens, S.-H.H. Tye, C. Vafa, E. Witten.
6. Four-Dimensional Type-II
Strings. Contributors: R. d'Auria, R. Bluhm, L. Castellani, L.J. Dixon, L.
Dolan, F. Gliozzi, P. Goddard, V.S. Kaplunovsky, H. Kawai, W. Lerche, D.C.
Lewellen, B.E.W. Nilsson, A.N. Schellekens, G. Sciuto, S.-H.H. Tye, C. Vafa.
