TASI Lectures on Perturbative String Theory and Ramond-Ramond 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.