Rolling down to the end of the world

Abstract: We discuss string theory configurations sitting on the slope of scalar potentials (aka tadpoles) and discuss properties of their spacetime dependent solutions. We argue that these solutions can extend only a finite distance away in the spacetime dimensions, scaling as \Delta^{-n}\sim {\cal T} with the strength of the tadpole {\cal T}. We show that naive singularities arising at this distance scale are physically replaced by ends of spacetime, related to the cobordism defects of the swampland cobordism conjecture. We illustrate these phenomena in large classes of examples, including susy and non-susy 10 string theories and a 6d string model whose tadpole triggers spontaneous compactification to a semirealistic 3-family MSSM-like particle physics model.

general relativity and quantum cosmologyHEP - phenomenologyHEP - theorymathematical physicsquantum physics

Audience: researchers in the topic

HEP seminars TU Wien (Vienna)

Series comments: ID number: 954 8284 9369