Providing a pedagogical introduction to the rapidly developing field of AdS/CFT correspondence, this is one of the first texts to provi de an accessible introduction to all the necessary concepts needed to engage with the methods, tools and applications of AdS/CFT. Without assuming anything beyond an introductory course in quantum field theory, it begins by guiding the reader through the basic concepts of field theory and gauge theory, general relativity, supersymmetry, supergravity, string theory and conformal field theory, before moving on to give a clear and rigorous account of AdS/CFT correspondence. The final section discusses the more specialised applications, including QCD, quark-gluon plasma and condensed matter. This book is self-contained and learner-focused, featuring numerous exercises and examples. It is essential reading for both students and researchers across the fields of particle, nuclear and condensed matter physics.

'A remarkably comprehensive introduction to an important subject, which should be accessible to those with some basic background in qua ntum field theory and general relativity.' Michael Dine, University of California, Santa Cruz

'Horaƫiu Năstase has managed to capture both the depth and breadth of the gauge/gravity duality in a wonderfully pedagogical manner. I can very well see Introduction to the AdS/CFT Correspondence becoming a standard reference for both graduate students as well as seasoned researchers in the field.' Jeff Murugan, University of Cape Town

'A welcome survey of what has become a broad and well-established area of research … a useful reference for students entering the field as well as for experienced practitioners, both in string theory and in other communities.' Diego Trancanelli, University of São Paulo

Horaţiu Năstase is a Researcher at the Institute for Theoretical Physics at the State University of São Paulo, Brazil. To date, his career has spanned four continents. As an undergraduate he studied at the University of Bucharest and Copenhagen University. He later completed his PhD at the State University of New York, Stony Brook, before moving to the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, where his collaboration with David Berenstein and Juan Maldacena defined the pp-wave correspondence. He has also held research and teaching positions at Brown University and the Tokyo Institute of Technology.