String Theory, String Model-Building, and String Phenomenology — A Practical Introduction

Abstract

This is the written version of an introductory self-contained course on string model-building and string phenomenology given at the 2006 TASI summer school. No prior knowledge of string theory is assumed. The goal is to provide a practical, “how-to” manual on string theory, string model-building, and string phenomenology with a minimum of mathematics. These notes cover the construction of bosonic strings, superstrings, and heterotic strings prior to compactification. These notes also develop the ten-dimensional free-fermionic construction. A final lecture discusses general features of heterotic string models, Type I (open) string models, and recent trends of string phenomenology. and general features of low-energy string phenomenology.