A bstract The Distance Conjecture holds that any infinite-distance limit in the scalar field moduli space of a consistent theory of quantum gravity must be accompanied by a tower of light particles whose masses scale exponentially with proper field distance ‖ ϕ ‖ as m ~ exp(− λ ‖ ϕ ‖), where λ is order-one in Planck units. While the evidence for this conjecture is formidable, there is at present no consensus on which values of λ are allowed. In this paper, we propose a sharp lower bound for the lightest tower in a given infinite-distance limit in d dimensions: λ ≥ $$ 1/\sqrt{d-2} $$ 1 / d − 2 . In support of this proposal, we show that (1) it is exactly preserved under dimensional reduction, (2) it is saturated in many examples of string/M-theory compactifications, including maximal supergravity in d = 4 – 10 dimensions, and (3) it is saturated in many examples of minimal supergravity in d = 4 – 10 dimensions, assuming appropriate versions of the Weak Gravity Conjecture. We argue that towers with λ < $$ 1/\sqrt{d-2} $$ 1 / d − 2 discussed previously in the literature are always accompanied by even lighter towers with λ ≥ $$ 1/\sqrt{d-2} $$ 1 / d − 2 , thereby satisfying our proposed bound. We discuss connections with and implications for the Emergent String Conjecture, the Scalar Weak Gravity Conjecture, the Repulsive Force Conjecture, large-field inflation, and scalar field potentials in quantum gravity. In particular, we argue that if our proposed bound applies beyond massless moduli spaces to scalar fields with potentials, then accelerated cosmological expansion cannot occur in asymptotic regimes of scalar field space in quantum gravity.
more »
« less
Twistors, Hyper-Kaehler Manifolds, and Complex Moduli
A theorem of Kuranishi (Ann Math 75(2):536–577, 1962) tells us that the moduli space of complex structures on any smooth compact manifold is always locally a finite-dimensional space. Globally, however, this is simply not true; we display examples in which the moduli space contains a sequence of regions for which the local dimension tends to infinity. These examples naturally arise from the twistor theory of hyper-Kähler manifolds.
more »
« less
- Award ID(s):
- 1510094
- NSF-PAR ID:
- 10222314
- Editor(s):
- Chiossi, Simon; Fino, Anna; Musso, Emilio; Podesta, Fabio; Vezzoni, Luigi
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Springer INdAM series
- Volume:
- 23
- ISSN:
- 2281-5198
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 207-214
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
More Like this
-
-
A bstract In two-derivative theories of gravity coupled to matter, charged black holes are self-attractive at large distances, with the force vanishing at zero temperature. However, in the presence of massless scalar fields and four-derivative corrections, zero-temperature black holes no longer need to obey the no-force condition. In this paper, we show how to calculate the long-range force between such black holes. We develop an efficient method for computing the higher-derivative corrections to the scalar charges when the theory has a shift symmetry, and compute the resulting force in a variety of examples. We find that higher-derivative corrected black holes may be self-attractive or self-repulsive, depending on the value of the Wilson coefficients and the VEVs of scalar moduli. Indeed, we find black hole solutions which are both superextremal and self-attractive. Furthermore, we present examples where no choice of higher-derivative coefficients allows for self-repulsive black hole states in all directions in charge space. This suggests that, unlike the Weak Gravity Conjecture, which may be satisfied by the black hole spectrum alone, the Repulsive Force Conjecture requires additional constraints on the spectrum of charged particles.more » « less
-
Available data on insulating, semiconducting, and metallic solids verify our new model that incorporates steady-state heat flow into a macroscopic, thermodynamic description of solids, with agreement being best for isotropic examples. Our model is based on: (1) mass and energy conservation; (2) Fourier’s law; (3) Stefan–Boltzmann’s law; and (4) rigidity, which is a large, yet heretofore neglected, energy reservoir with no counterpart in gases. To account for rigidity while neglecting dissipation, we consider the ideal, limiting case of a perfectly frictionless elastic solid (PFES) which does not generate heat from stress. Its equation-of-state is independent of the energetics, as in the historic model. We show that pressure-volume work (PdV) in a PFES arises from internal interatomic forces, which are linked to Young’s modulus (Ξ) and a constant (n) accounting for cation coordination. Steady-state conditions are adiabatic since heat content (Q) is constant. Because average temperature is also constant and the thermal gradient is fixed in space, conditions are simultaneously isothermal: Under these dual restrictions, thermal transport properties do not enter into our analysis. We find that adiabatic and isothermal bulk moduli (B) are equal. Moreover, Q/V depends on temperature only. Distinguishing deformation from volume changes elucidates how solids thermally expand. These findings lead to simple descriptions of the two specific heats in solids: ∂ln(cP)/∂P = −1/B; cP = nΞ times thermal expansivity divided by density; cP = cVnΞ/B. Implications of our validated formulae are briefly covered.more » « less
-
Abstract Consider the algebraic function $\Phi _{g,n}$ that assigns to a general $g$ -dimensional abelian variety an $n$ -torsion point. A question first posed by Klein asks: What is the minimal $d$ such that, after a rational change of variables, the function $\Phi _{g,n}$ can be written as an algebraic function of $d$ variables? Using techniques from the deformation theory of $p$ -divisible groups and finite flat group schemes, we answer this question by computing the essential dimension and $p$ -dimension of congruence covers of the moduli space of principally polarized abelian varieties. We apply this result to compute the essential $p$ -dimension of congruence covers of the moduli space of genus $g$ curves, as well as its hyperelliptic locus, and of certain locally symmetric varieties. These results include cases where the locally symmetric variety $M$ is proper . As far as we know, these are the first examples of nontrivial lower bounds on the essential dimension of an unramified, nonabelian covering of a proper algebraic variety.more » « less
-
more » « less
Abstract We apply the machinery of Bridgeland stability conditions on derived categories of coherent sheaves to describe the geometry of classical moduli spaces associated with canonical genus 4 space curves via an effective control over its wall‐crossing. This article provides the first description of a moduli space of Pandharipande–Thomas stable pairs that is used as an intermediate step toward the description of the associated Hilbert scheme, which in turn is the first example where the components of a classical moduli space were completely determined via wall‐crossing. We give a full list of irreducible components of the space of stable pairs, along with a birational description of each component, and a partial list for the Hilbert scheme. There are several long standing open problems regarding classical sheaf theoretic moduli spaces, and the present work will shed light on further studies of such moduli spaces such as Hilbert schemes of curves and moduli of stable pairs that are very hard to tackle without the wall‐crossing techniques.
- Free Publicly Accessible Full Text
-
Accepted Manuscript1.0
- Journal Article:
- https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-67519-0
