TH String Theory Seminar

# Sharpening the Distance Conjecture in Diverse Dimensions

## by Tom Rudelius

Europe/Zurich
zoom only (CERN)

### zoom only

#### CERN

Description

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 $||\phi||$ as $m \sim \exp(- \lambda ||\phi||)$, where $\lambda$ is order-one in Planck units. While the evidence for this conjecture is formidable, there is at present no consensus on which values of $\lambda$ are allowed. In this talk, I will propose a sharp lower bound on $\lambda$ in $d$ spacetime dimensions: $\lambda \geq 1/\sqrt{d-2}$. I will provide several lines of evidence for this bound and discuss its implications for scalar field potentials and cosmology.

Videoconference
String Seminars
Zoom Meeting ID
61053603623
Host
Elena Gianolio
Alternative hosts
Shota Komatsu, Kyriakos Papadodimas, Matthew Dodelson, Alexander Zhiboedov
Passcode
87794299