TH Journal Club on Strings & QFT

On the consistency of de Sitter vacua in string theory

by Dr Thomas Van Riet (KU Leuven)

Europe/Zurich
4/3-006 - TH Conference Room (CERN)

4/3-006 - TH Conference Room

CERN

110
Show room on map
Description

In this blackboard talk I will

1. Explain the broad conceptual basis behind constructing dS vacua in string theory. I will treat in pedagogical terms the KKLT model which serves as the prime example supporting evidence for the landscape.

2. Review the worries about anti-brane backreaction over the last 9 years and what the outcome of that discussion was.

3. Point to a recent problem found by Moritz, Retolaza and Westphal, which deals with the anti-brane backreaction on the moduli (not the
geometry) and a recent problem pointed out by Sethi.

4. I relate this to the recent paradigm shift  that takes the focus from the landscape to the so-called Swampland.

5. I end with some speculations that de Sitter space is in the Swampland.