Strings and their compactification from the particle viewpoint
Richard C. Slansky · University of North Texas Digital Library (University of North Texas) · 1986
A series of four lectures is given which deals with the particle formulation of string theory. An introductory lecture is given on where the idea of strings comes from and what strings are. An introduction is given to simple Lie algebras and their representations. Compactified strings and the heterotic theories are discussed, showing how infinite-dimensional Kac-Moody affine algebras can be spectrum generating algebras in (open) string theories. The spectrum of excited states of the heterotic string is examined, and comments are made on representations of affine algebras. Some aspects are shown of the algebraic structure of compactified closed bosonic strings. (LEW)