Strings and Symmetries

The contributions of this volume, by distinguished physicists and mathematicians, cover topics such as strings, conformal field theories, W and Virasoro algebras, topological field theory, quantum groups, vertex and Hopf algebras, and non-commutative geometry. Written in a pedagogical style, it is suitable for students and scientists.

Superstrings: The view from below.- Note on holomorphic anomalies in topological field theories.- Folded strings.- Algebro-geometric aspects of the Bethe equations.- Extended superconformal symmetry, Freudenthal triple systems and gauged WZW models.- A three-dimensional fractional string.- Why don't we have a covariant superstring field theory?.- Search for duality symmetries in p-branes.- Non linear identities between unitary minimal Virasoro characters.- Finite deformations of CF T and space-time geometry.- Non-standard fermion propagators from conformal field theory.- Manifestly space-time conformally invariant null strings.- Lie algebras and exactly solvable problems in Quantum Mechanics.- Geometry and arithmetic of factorized S-matrices.- Duality principle and braided geometry.- HyperKähler quotients and N=4 gauge theories in D=2.- Four dimensional integrable theories.- Regularisation, the BV method, and the antibracket cohomology.- E 10 for beginners.- Symmetry principles for string theory.- Are on-shell 3-string amplitudes the structure constants of the fake monster Lie algebra?.- Auxiliary fields for super Yang-Mills from division algebras.- Automorphism groups of discrete octonions and possible applications in physics.- Spatial geometry and the Wu-Yang ambiguity.- The classification of third order PDE with respect to symmetry.- Symmetries of large systems of differential equations.- q-Deformed path integral and generalized grassmann variables.- Quantum mechanical quantum group in two-dimensional gravity.- Electromagnetism and gravity in noncommutative geometry.- The geometry of W symmetry algebras.- Quantization of a gauge theory of quadratic Lie algebras in 2d.- The BV-algebra structure of W 3 cohomology.- Black hole solution of topologically massivegravity.- Linearized gravity in "closed" universes with continuous symmetries.- Quantum fluctuations in the presence of gravitational waves.- On the radiative processes near cosmic strings.- Integrable models in multidimensional cosmology with multicomponent perfect fluid and Toda lattices.- Effective field theory.- Gürsey's chiral model and its modifications.- Instability of a Nielsen-Olesen vortex embedded in the electroweak theory.- Proper-time methods in the presence of non-constant background fields.- On Abelian bosonization of free fermi fields in three space dimensions.- Internal spin structure of the nucleon.- Strings and membranes in electron theory.- Quark and lepton masses and the Higgs field in fifth dimension.- Regularization and quantization of higher dimensional current algebras.- Fermion masses and mixing from an extra gauge symmetry.- E6 model manifestations in z and ? decays.- Anomaly and exotic statistics in one dimension.- Samuel MacDowell Closing Remarks Gürsey Memorial Conference I June 6-10,1994.