These notes present an introduction to branes in ten and eleven dimensional
supergravity and string/M-theory which is geared to an audience of traditional
relativists, especially graduate students and others with little background in
supergravity. They are designed as a tutorial and not as a thorough review of
the subject; as a result, many topics of current interest are not addressed.
However, a guide to further reading is included. The presentation begins with
eleven dimensional supergravity, stressing its relation to 3+1 Einstein-Maxwell
theory. The notion of Kaluza-Klein compactification is then introduced, and is
used to relate the eleven dimensional discussion to supergravity in 9+1
dimensions and to string theory. The focus is on type IIA supergravity, but the
type IIB theory is also addressed, as is the T-duality symmetry that relates
them. Branes in both 10+1 and 9+1 dimensions are included. Finally, although
the details are not discussed, a few comments are provided on the relation
between supergravity and string perturbation theory and on black hole entropy.
The goal is to provide traditional relativists with a kernel of knowledge from
which to grow their understanding of branes and strings.