Gaugino Condensation Research Articles

K\xe4hler moduli stabilization from ten dimensions

We describe the back-reaction of gaugino condensates in supersymmetric AdS4 Type II String Theory compactifications with fluxes. We use generalized complex geometry to capture the modification of the ten-dimensional supersymmetry equations and show that the cosmological constant prevents the cycle wrapped by the branes with gaugino condensation from shrinking to zero size. Thus, unlike in ordinary geometric transitions in flat space, the volume of this cycle remains finite. For D7 branes with gaugino condensation, this gives a ten-dimensional account of Kähler moduli stabilization. Furthermore, by matching the ten-dimensional supergravity solutions near and far from the cycle wrapped by the D7 branes, we find a relation between the size of this cycle and the cosmological constant. This relation agrees with the supersymmetric AdS vacuum condition obtained by KKLT using effective field theory.

A holographic kaleidoscope for mathcal{N} = 1*

We study in detail the recently-found family of asymptotically AdS5× S5 type IIB supergravity solutions dual to the mathcal{N} = 1* SYM theory with equal masses. The backgrounds exhibit a naked singularity and are labelled by a dimensionless parameter, λ, which is interpreted as the ratio of the gaugino condensate and the mass in the dual field theory. When |λ| < 1 we show that the naked singularity is due to a smeared distribution of polarized (p, q) five-branes. For this range of parameters we study the nature of the singularity using probe strings and show that the dual line operators exhibit screening behavior. These features are in line with the physics anticipated in the work of Polchinski-Strassler. For |λ| = 1 the naked singularity has qualitatively different behavior which has no clear brane interpretation. We show that when λ = 1 the singularity can be excised and replaced by a smooth Euclidean supergravity solution with an S4 boundary.

Deriving the inflaton in compactified M-theory with a de Sitter vacuum

Compactifying M-theory on a manifold of $G_2$ holonomy gives a UV complete 4D theory. It is supersymmetric, with soft supersymmetry breaking via gaugino condensation that simultaneously stabilizes all moduli and generates a hierarchy between the Planck and the Fermi scale. It generically has gauge matter, chiral fermions, and several other important features of our world. Here we show that the theory also contains a successful inflaton, which is a linear combination of moduli closely aligned with the overall volume modulus of the compactified $G_2$ manifold. The scheme does not rely on ad hoc assumptions, but derives from an effective quantum theory of gravity. Inflation arises near an inflection point in the potential which can be deformed into a local minimum. This implies that a de Sitter vacuum can occur in the moduli potential even without uplifting. Generically present charged hidden sector matter generates a de Sitter vacuum as well.

Gaugino condensation and small uplifts in KKLT

In the first part of this note we argue that ten dimensional consistency requirements in the form of a certain tadpole cancellation condition can be satisfied by KKLT type vacua of type IIB string theory. We explain that a new term of non-local nature is generated dynamically once supersymmetry is broken and ensures cancellation of the tadpole. It can be interpreted as the stress caused by the restoring force that the stabilization mechanism exerts on the volume modulus. In the second part, we explain that it is surprisingly difficult to engineer sufficiently long warped throats to prevent decom-pactification which are also small enough in size to fit into the bulk Calabi-Yau (CY). We give arguments that achieving this with reasonable amount of control may not be possible in generic CY compactifications while CYs with very non-generic geometrical properties might evade our conclusion.

Understanding KKLT from a 10d perspective

Some of the most well-celebrated constructions of metastable de Sitter vacua from string theory, such as the KKLT proposal, involve the interplay of gaugino condensation on a D7-brane stack and an uplift by a positive tension object. These constructions have recently been challenged using arguments that rely on the trace-reversed and integrated 10d Einstein equation. We give a critical assessment of such concerns. We first relate an integrated 10d Einstein equation to the extremization condition for a 10d-derived 4d effective potential. Then we argue how to obtain the latter from a 10d action which incorporates gaugino condensation in a (recently proposed) manifestly finite, perfect-square form. This effective potential is consistent with 4d supergravity and does not present obstacles for an uplifted minimum. Moreover, within standard approximations, we understand the uplift explicitly in one of the popular versions of the integrated 10d equation. Our conclusion is that de Sitter constructions of the KKLT type cannot be dismissed simply based on the integrated 10d equations considered so far.

Modular symmetries and the swampland conjectures

Recent string theory tests of swampland ideas like the distance or the dS conjectures have been performed at weak coupling. Testing these ideas beyond the weak coupling regime remains challenging. We propose to exploit the modular symmetries of the moduli effective action to check swampland constraints beyond perturbation theory. As an example we study the case of heterotic 4d mathcal{N}=1 compactifications, whose non-perturbative effective action is known to be invariant under modular symmetries acting on the Kähler and complex structure moduli, in particular SL(2, Z) T-dualities (or subgroups thereof) for 4d heterotic or orbifold compactifications. Remarkably, in models with non-perturbative superpotentials, the corresponding duality invariant potentials diverge at points at infinite distance in moduli space. The divergence relates to towers of states becoming light, in agreement with the distance conjecture. We discuss specific examples of this behavior based on gaugino condensation in heterotic orbifolds. We show that these examples are dual to compactifications of type I’ or Horava-Witten theory, in which the SL(2, Z) acts on the complex structure of an underlying 2-torus, and the tower of light states correspond to D0-branes or M-theory KK modes. The non-perturbative examples explored point to potentials not leading to weak coupling at infinite distance, but rather diverging in the asymptotic corners of moduli space, dynamically forbidding the access to points with global symmetries. We perform a study of general modular invariant potentials and find that there are dS maxima and saddle points but no dS minima, and that all examples explored obey the refined dS conjecture.

On brane gaugino condensates in 10d

We analyze the structure of gaugino interactions on D7-branes from a 10d perspective. This is essential if one wants to lift the standard 4d approach to type IIB moduli stabilization to 10d. In particular, a 10d picture has recently been used to raise concerns about the KKLT proposal for constructing de Sitter vacua, and to lend support to swampland conjectures against de Sitter. However, the analyses of brane gaugino condensation so far are plagued by UV divergences and do not include local 4-fermion terms. They also fail to reproduce the 4-fermion terms required by supergravity when compactified to four dimensions. Motivated by the structure of heterotic and Hořava-Witten theories, we suggest an extension of the brane action by a particular 4-fermion operator that resolves the above problems. Crucially, the UV divergence is cancelled and the expected structure of the 4d effective action is reproduced. We believe that attempts at a 10d description of KKLT have to be reconsidered in this new light.

Gaugino condensation and geometry of the perfect square

Gaugino condensation plays a crucial role in the formation of de Sitter vacua. However, the theory of this effect is still incomplete. In four dimensions, the perfect square nature of gaugino couplings follows from the square of auxiliaries in the supergravity action. We explain here why the supersymmetric non-Abelian Dp-brane action, which is the basis for the theory of ten-dimensional gaugino condensation, must have a four-gaugino coupling. This term in the Einstein-Yang-Mills ten-dimensional supergravity is a part of the perfect square, mixing a 3-form with a gaugino bilinear. The perfect square term follows from the superspace geometry, being a square of the superspace torsion. The supercovariant equation of motion for a gaugino on the non-Abelian Dp-brane also involves a supertorsion in agreement with the perfect square term in the action.

Axions and anomalous U(1)’s

Inspired by recent studies of high-scale decay constant or flavorful QCD axions, we review and clarify their existence in effective string models with anomalous U(1) gauge groups. We find that such models, when coupled to charged scalars getting vacuum expectation values, always have one light axion, whose mass can only come from nonperturbative effects. If the main nonperturbative effect is from QCD, then it becomes a Peccei–Quinn axion candidate for solving the strong CP problem. We then study simple models with universal Green–Schwarz mechanism and only one charged scalar field: in the minimal gaugino condensation case the axion mass is tied to the supersymmetry breaking scale and cannot be light enough, but slightly refined models maintain a massless axion all the way down to the QCD scale. Both kinds of models can be extended to yield intermediate scale axion decay constants. Finally, we gauge flavorful axion models under an anomalous U(1) and discuss the axion couplings which arise.

The Tension between 10D Supergravity and dS Uplifts

AbstractWe elaborate on the recent work of Moritz et al. where it is argued that anti‐brane uplifting in KKLT models never leads to dS vacua. This is due to flattening effects in the effective potential found when treating the gaugino condensate energy momentum in ten‐dimensional supergravity. We point out that the Silverstein‐Saltman uplift, which effectively dissolves the anti‐brane in 3‐form fluxes, is a conceptually simpler setting in which flattening effects can be present, without requiring assumptions about UV/IR mixings. Along the way we revise and improve on the arguments of Moritz et al. and discuss various subleties when studying gaugino condensates from a ten‐dimensional point‐of‐view. In particular, the “no dS” argument is slightly weaker and we emphasize a technical loophole that might allow dS vacua. Finally we suggest that AdS vacua which are parametrically controlled from these flattening effects belong to the Swampland. We comment on the relation with the recent refined dS Swampland inequalities.

Heavy gravitino from dynamical generation of right-handed neutrino mass scale, and gravitational waves

The absence of supersymmetric particles at the weak scale is a puzzle if supersymmetry solves the gauge hierarchy problem. We show that, if the right-handed neutrino masses arise from hidden gaugino condensation via GUT-suppressed operators, successful thermal leptogenesis leads to the lower bound on the gravitino mass, which may explain the little hierarchy problem. If domain walls associated with the gaugino condensation are formed after inflation, they annihilate when H∼m3/2. We address the possibility that observable gravitational wave signals might emerge from the domain wall annihilation.

The 10d uplift of the GPPZ solution

We present the uplift of the GPPZ solution of the five-dimensional maximal supergravity to ten dimensions. The five dimensional solution involves two real scalar fields, with one of them encoding holographically the (norm of the complex) supersymmetri mathcal{N}=1 mass deformation and the other the real part of the gaugino condensate. We embed this solution in a consistent truncation of D = 5 maximal supergravity which involves two complex scalars dual to the complex mass deformations and the complex gaugino condensate, and a U(1) gauge field dual to the U(1)R current, and uplift it to ten dimensions. The ten dimensional solution is completely explicit, with all fields given in terms of elementary functions. The metric and the axion-dilaton agree with those of a partial uplift of the GPPZ flow by Pilch and Warner. We analyze the asymptotics and the singularity structure of the ten dimensional solution. The uplifted solution is singular, but the singularity is milder than that of the five dimensional solution, and there is conformal frame in which the metric is only singular at one point of S5. We compare the asymptotics of the 10d solution with that of the Polchinski-Strassler and Freedman-Minahan solutions, and find agreement with Freedman-Minahan and disagreement with Polchinski-Strassler In particular, we infer that while the Polchinski-Strassler 10d fields satisfy the correct boundary conditions, they do not solve the field equations near the boundary.

Toward de Sitter space from ten dimensions

Using a 10D lift of non-perturbative volume stabilization in type IIB string theory we study the limitations for obtaining de Sitter vacua. Based on this we find that the simplest KKLT vacua with a single Kahler modulus stabilized by a gaugino condensate cannot be uplifted to de Sitter. Rather, the uplift flattens out due to stronger backreaction on the volume modulus than has previously been anticipated, resulting in vacua which are meta-stable and SUSY breaking, but that are always AdS. However, we also show that setups such as racetrack stabilization can avoid this issue. In these models it is possible to obtain supersymmetric AdS vacua with a cosmological constant that can be tuned to zero while retaining finite moduli stabilization. In this regime, it seems that de Sitter uplifts are possible with negligible backreaction on the internal volume. We exhibit this behavior also from the 10D perspective.

Inflation from Gaugino Condensation in Supergravity

Inflation from Gaugino Condensation in Supergravity

One-loop Pfaffians and large-field inflation in string theory

We study the consistency of large-field inflation in low-energy effective field theories of string theory. In particular, we focus on the stability of Kähler moduli in the particularly interesting case where the non-perturbative superpotential of the Kähler sector explicitly depends on the inflaton field. This situation arises generically due to one-loop corrections to the instanton action. The field dependence of the modulus potential feeds back into the inflationary dynamics, potentially impairing slow roll. We distinguish between world-sheet instantons from Euclidean D-branes, which typically yield polynomial one-loop Pfaffians, and gaugino condensates, which can yield exponential or periodic corrections. In all scenarios successful slow-roll inflation imposes bounds on the magnitude of the one-loop correction, corresponding to constraints on possible compactifications. While we put a certain emphasis on Type IIB constructions with mobile D7-branes, our results seem to apply more generally.

On heterotic vacua with fermionic expectation values

We study heterotic backgrounds with non‐trivial H‐flux and non‐vanishing expectation values of fermionic bilinears, often referred to as gaugino condensates. The gaugini appear in the low energy action via the gauge‐invariant three‐form bilinear . For Calabi‐Yau compactifications to four dimensions, the gaugino condensate corresponds to an internal three‐form that must be a singlet of the holonomy group. This condition does not hold anymore when an internal H‐flux is turned on and effects are included. In this paper we study flux compactifications to three and four‐dimensions on G‐structure manifolds. We derive the generic conditions for supersymmetric solutions. We use integrability conditions and Lichnerowicz type arguments to derive a set of constraints whose solution, together with supersymmetry, is sufficient for finding backgrounds with gaugino condensate.

Gauge coupling field, currents, anomalies and [formula omitted] super-Yang–Mills effective actions

Working with a gauge coupling field in a linear superfield, we construct effective Lagrangians for N=1 super-Yang–Mills theory fully compatible with the expected all-order behavior or physical quantities. Using the one-loop dependence on its ultraviolet cutoff and anomaly matching or cancellation of R and dilatation anomalies, we obtain the Wilsonian effective Lagrangian. With similar anomaly matching or cancellation methods, we derive the effective action for gaugino condensates, as a function of the real coupling field. Both effective actions lead to a derivation of the NSVZ β function from algebraic arguments only. The extension of results to N=2 theories or to matter systems is briefly considered. The main tool for the discussion of anomalies is a generic supercurrent structure with 16B+16F operators (the S multiplet), which we derive using superspace identities and field equations for a fully general gauge theory Lagrangian with the linear gauge coupling superfield, and with various U(1)R currents. As a byproduct, we show under which conditions the S multiplet can be improved to contain the Callan–Coleman–Jackiw energy-momentum tensor whose trace measures the breaking of scale invariance.

A dynamical mechanism for large volumes with consistent couplings

A mechanism for addressing the 'decompactification problem' is proposed, which consists of balancing the vacuum energy in Scherk-Schwarzed theories against contributions coming from non- perturbative physics. Universality of threshold corrections ensures that, in such situations, the stable minimum will have consistent gauge couplings for any gauge group that shares the same N = 2 beta function for the bulk excitations as the gauge group that takes part in the minimisation. Scherk- Schwarz compactification from 6D to 4D in heterotic strings is discussed explicitly, together with two alternative possibilities for the non-perturbative physics, namely metastable SQCD vacua and a single gaugino condensate. In the former case, it is shown that modular symmetries gives various consistency checks, and allow one to follow soft-terms, playing a similar role to R-symmetry in global SQCD. The latter case is particularly attractive when there is nett Bose-Fermi degeneracy in the massless sector. In such cases, because the original Casimir energy is generated entirely by excited and/or non-physical string modes, it is completely immune to the non-perturbative IR physics. The large separation between UV and IR contributions to the potential greatly simplifies the analysis of stabilisation, and is a general possibility that has not been considered before.

Holography for N $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 1∗ on S 4

We construct the five-dimensional supergravity dual of the $\mathcal{N}=1^*$ mass deformation of the $\mathcal{N} =4$ supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory on $S^4$ and use it to calculate the universal contribution to the corresponding $S^4$ free energy at large 't Hooft coupling in the planar limit. The holographic RG flow solutions are smooth and preserve four supercharges. As a novel feature compared to the holographic duals of $\mathcal{N} = 1^*$ on $\mathbb{R}^4$, in our backgrounds the five-dimensional dilaton has a non-trivial profile, and the gaugino condensate is fixed in terms of the mass-deformation parameters. Important aspects of the analysis involve characterizing the ambiguities in the partition function of non-conformal $\mathcal{N}=1$ supersymmetric theories on $S^4$ as well as the action of S-duality on the $\mathcal{N}=1^*$ theory.

On the smallness of the cosmological constant

In N=1 supergravity the scalar potential of the hidden sector may have degenerate supersymmetric (SUSY) and non-supersymmetric Minkowski vacua. In this case local SUSY in the second supersymmetric Minkowski phase can be broken dynamically. Assuming that such a second phase and the phase associated with the physical vacuum are exactly degenerate, we estimate the value of the cosmological constant. We argue that the observed value of the dark energy density can be reproduced if in the second vacuum local SUSY breaking is induced by gaugino condensation at a scale which is just slightly lower than ΛQCD in the physical vacuum. The presence of a third degenerate vacuum, in which local SUSY and electroweak (EW) symmetry are broken near the Planck scale, may lead to small values of the quartic Higgs self–coupling and the corresponding beta function at the Planck scale in the phase in which we live.