Quintessence and the Swampland: The Numerically Controlled Regime of Moduli Space

Abstract: We provide a detailed discussion of the main theoretical and phenomenological challenges of quintessence model building in any numerically controlled regime of the moduli space of string theory. We argue that a working quintessence model requires a leading order non‐supersymmetric (near) Minkowski vacuum with an axionic flat direction. This axion, when lifted by subdominant non‐perturbative effects, could drive hilltop quintessence only for highly tuned initial conditions and a very low inflationary scale. Our analysis has two important implications. Firstly, scenarios which are in agreement with the swampland conjectures, such as those that include runaways, or supersymmetric AdS and Minkowski vacua, cannot give rise to phenomenologically viable quintessence with full computational control. This raises doubts on the validity of the swampland dS conjecture since it would imply a strong tension between quantum gravity and observations. Secondly, if data should prefer dynamical dark energy, axion models based on alignment mechanisms look more promising than highly contrived hilltop scenarios.

Standort
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
Umfang
Online-Ressource
Sprache
Englisch

Erschienen in
Quintessence and the Swampland: The Numerically Controlled Regime of Moduli Space ; day:20 ; month:02 ; year:2022 ; extent:21
Fortschritte der Physik ; (20.02.2022) (gesamt 21)

Urheber
Cicoli, Michele
Cunillera, Francesc
Padilla, Antonio
Pedro, Francisco G.

DOI
10.1002/prop.202200008
URN
urn:nbn:de:101:1-2022022114001098032319
Rechteinformation
Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
Letzte Aktualisierung
15.08.2025, 07:33 MESZ

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