Sharpening the Distance Conjecture in diverse dimensions
Abstract 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...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SpringerOpen
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of High Energy Physics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/JHEP12(2022)114 |
| _version_ | 1827979599881961472 |
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| author | Muldrow Etheredge Ben Heidenreich Sami Kaya Yue Qiu Tom Rudelius |
| author_facet | Muldrow Etheredge Ben Heidenreich Sami Kaya Yue Qiu Tom Rudelius |
| author_sort | Muldrow Etheredge |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract 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 / d − 2 $$ 1/\sqrt{d-2} $$ . 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 / d − 2 $$ 1/\sqrt{d-2} $$ discussed previously in the literature are always accompanied by even lighter towers with λ ≥ 1 / d − 2 $$ 1/\sqrt{d-2} $$ , 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T21:40:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9cc5b72d958441e38ed92e822c7b3d48 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1029-8479 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T21:40:23Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of High Energy Physics |
| spelling | doaj.art-9cc5b72d958441e38ed92e822c7b3d482023-03-26T11:04:16ZengSpringerOpenJournal of High Energy Physics1029-84792022-12-0120221217110.1007/JHEP12(2022)114Sharpening the Distance Conjecture in diverse dimensionsMuldrow Etheredge0Ben Heidenreich1Sami Kaya2Yue Qiu3Tom Rudelius4Department of Physics, University of MassachusettsDepartment of Physics, University of MassachusettsDepartment of Physics, University of MassachusettsDepartment of Physics, University of MassachusettsDepartment of Physics, University of CaliforniaAbstract 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 / d − 2 $$ 1/\sqrt{d-2} $$ . 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 / d − 2 $$ 1/\sqrt{d-2} $$ discussed previously in the literature are always accompanied by even lighter towers with λ ≥ 1 / d − 2 $$ 1/\sqrt{d-2} $$ , 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.https://doi.org/10.1007/JHEP12(2022)114D-BranesP-BranesString and Brane PhenomenologySuperstring Vacua |
| spellingShingle | Muldrow Etheredge Ben Heidenreich Sami Kaya Yue Qiu Tom Rudelius Sharpening the Distance Conjecture in diverse dimensions Journal of High Energy Physics D-Branes P-Branes String and Brane Phenomenology Superstring Vacua |
| title | Sharpening the Distance Conjecture in diverse dimensions |
| title_full | Sharpening the Distance Conjecture in diverse dimensions |
| title_fullStr | Sharpening the Distance Conjecture in diverse dimensions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sharpening the Distance Conjecture in diverse dimensions |
| title_short | Sharpening the Distance Conjecture in diverse dimensions |
| title_sort | sharpening the distance conjecture in diverse dimensions |
| topic | D-Branes P-Branes String and Brane Phenomenology Superstring Vacua |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/JHEP12(2022)114 |
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