Swampland variations on a theme by KKLT

Abstract

The KKLT scenario in a warped throat, if consistent, provides a concrete counterexample to both the AdS scale separation and the dS swampland conjectures. First, we define and analyze the relevant effective field theory for the conifold modulus and the overall Kähler modulus that both have exponentially small masses. The scalar potential still admits KKLT-like AdS and dS minima. Second, we critically analyze the reliability of the employed Wilsonian effective action by evaluating the masses of light modes localized in the warped throat. The resulting mass spectrum is discussed with respect to the swampland distance conjecture. We find the recently observed emergent nature of the latter not only at large distance points but also at the conifold point motivating a general extension of it. In this respect, KKLT and trans-Planckian field distance are on equal footing. It is pointed out that the reliability of the KKLT minimum will depend on how this emergent behavior is interpreted.