The status of string theory is reviewed, and major recent developments-especially those in going beyond perturbation theory in the string theory and quantum field theory frameworks — are analyzed. This analysis helps better understand the role and place of string theory in the modern picture of the physical world. Even though quantum field theory describes a wide range of experimental phenomena, it is emphasized that there are some insurmountable problems inherent in it-notably the impossibility to formulate the quantum theory of gravity on its basis — which prevent it from being a fundamental physical theory of the world of microscopic distances. It is this task, the creation of such a theory, which string theory, currently far from completion, is expected to solve. In spite of its somewhat vague current form, string theory has already led to a number of serious results and greatly contributed to progress in the understanding of quantum field theory. It is these developments which are our concern in this review.

PACS: 11.15.−q, 11.25.−w, 12.20.−m (all) DOI: 10.1070/PU2002v045n09ABEH001148 URL: https://ufn.ru/en/articles/2002/9/a/ 000180542700001 Citation: Marshakov A V "String theory or field theory?" Phys. Usp. 45 915–954 (2002) BibTexBibNote ® (generic)BibNote ® (RIS)MedlineRefWorks Оригинал: Маршаков А В «Теория струн или теория поля?» УФН 172 977–1020 (2002); DOI: 10.3367/UFNr.0172.200209a.0977