Japan. J. Math. 4, 95--120 (2009)

Geometry as seen by string theory

H. Ooguri

Abstract: This is an introductory review of the topological string theory from physicist's perspective. I start with the definition of the theory and describe its relation to the Gromov-Witten invariants. The BCOV holomorphic anomaly equations, which generalize the Quillen anomaly formula, can be used to compute higher genus partition functions of the theory. The open/closed string duality relates the closed topological string theory to the Chern-Simons gauge theory and the random matrix model. As an application of the topological string theory, I discuss the counting of bound states of D-branes.


* This article is based on the 4th Takagi Lectures that the author delivered at the Kyoto University on June 21, 2008.