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
This content will become publicly available on January 1, 2025
Dense geodesics, tower alignment, and the Sharpened Distance Conjecture
The Sharpened Distance Conjecture and Tower Scalar Weak Gravity Conjecture are closely related but distinct conjectures, neither one implying the other. Motivated by examples, I propose that both are consequences of two new conjectures: 1. The infinite distance geodesics passing through an arbitrary point ϕ in the moduli space populate a dense set of directions in the tangent space at ϕ. 2. Along any infinite distance geodesic, there exists a tower of particles whose scalar-charge-to-mass ratio (–∇log m) projection everywhere along the geodesic is greater than or equal to 1/√(d-2). I perform several nontrivial tests of these new conjectures in maximal and half-maximal supergravity examples. I also use the Tower Scalar Weak Gravity Conjecture to conjecture a sharp bound on exponentially heavy towers that accompany infinite distance limits.
more »
« less
- Award ID(s):
- 2112800
- PAR ID:
- 10528152
- Publisher / Repository:
- JHEP
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Journal of High Energy Physics
- Volume:
- 2024
- Issue:
- 1
- ISSN:
- 1029-8479
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
More Like this
-
-
more » « less
Abstract Motivated by the Weak Gravity Conjecture, we uncover an intricate interplay between black holes, BPS particle counting, and Calabi‐Yau geometry in five dimensions. In particular, we point out that extremal BPS black holes exist only in certain directions in the charge lattice, and we argue that these directions fill out a cone that is dual to the cone of effective divisors of the Calabi‐Yau threefold. The tower and sublattice versions of the Weak Gravity Conjecture require an infinite tower of BPS particles in these directions, and therefore imply purely geometric conjectures requiring the existence of infinite towers of holomorphic curves in every direction within the dual of the cone of effective divisors. We verify these geometric conjectures in a number of examples by computing Gopakumar‐Vafa invariants.
-
We study towers of light particles that appear in infinite-distance limits of moduli spaces of 9-dimensional 𝒩=1 string theories, some of which notably feature decompactification limits with running string coupling. The lightest tower in such decompactification limits consists of the non-BPS Kaluza-Klein modes of Type I′ string theory, whose masses depend nontrivially on the moduli of the theory. We work out the moduli-dependence by explicit computation, finding that despite the running decompactification the Distance Conjecture remains satisfied with an exponential decay rate ⍺ ≥ 1/√(d-2) in accordance with the sharpened Distance Conjecture. The related sharpened Convex Hull Scalar Weak Gravity Conjecture also passes stringent tests. Our results non-trivially test the Emergent String Conjecture, while highlighting the important subtlety that decompactifcation can lead to a running solution rather than to a higher-dimensional vacuum.more » « less
-
A bstract We formulate a series of conjectures relating the geometry of conformal manifolds to the spectrum of local operators in conformal field theories in d > 2 spacetime dimensions. We focus on conformal manifolds with limiting points at infinite distance with respect to the Zamolodchikov metric. Our central conjecture is that all theories at infinite distance possess an emergent higher-spin symmetry, generated by an infinite tower of currents whose anomalous dimensions vanish exponentially in the distance. Stated geometrically, the diameter of a non-compact conformal manifold must diverge logarithmically in the higher-spin gap. In the holographic context our conjectures are related to the Distance Conjecture in the swampland program. Interpreted gravitationally, they imply that approaching infinite distance in moduli space at fixed AdS radius, a tower of higher-spin fields becomes massless at an exponential rate that is bounded from below in Planck units. We discuss further implications for conformal manifolds of superconformal field theories in three and four dimensions.more » « less
-
Abstract We prove a 1979 conjecture of Lusztig on the cohomology of semi-infinite Deligne–Lusztig varieties attached to division algebras over local fields. We also prove the two conjectures of Boyarchenko on these varieties. It is known that in this setting, the semi-infinite Deligne–Lusztig varieties are ind-schemes comprised of limits of certain finite-type schemes X h {X_{h}} . Boyarchenko’s two conjectures are on the maximality of X h {X_{h}} and on the behavior of the torus-eigenspaces of their cohomology. Both of these conjectures were known in full generality only for division algebras with Hasse invariant 1 / n {1/n} in the case h = 2 {h=2} (the “lowest level”) by the work of Boyarchenko–Weinstein on the cohomology of a special affinoid in the Lubin–Tate tower. We prove that the number of rational points of X h {X_{h}} attains its Weil–Deligne bound, so that the cohomology of X h {X_{h}} is pure in a very strong sense. We prove that the torus-eigenspaces of the cohomology group H c i ( X h ) {H_{c}^{i}(X_{h})} are irreducible representations and are supported in exactly one cohomological degree. Finally, we give a complete description of the homology groups of the semi-infinite Deligne–Lusztig varieties attached to any division algebra, thus giving a geometric realization of a large class of supercuspidal representations of these groups. Moreover, the correspondence θ ↦ H c i ( X h ) [ θ ] {\theta\mapsto H_{c}^{i}(X_{h})[\theta]} agrees with local Langlands and Jacquet–Langlands correspondences. The techniques developed in this paper should be useful in studying these constructions for p -adic groups in general.more » « less
