2024/07/29 by Etheredge, Muldrow, Heidenreich, Ben, Rudelius, Tom
#FOS: Physical sciences #High Energy Physics - Theory (hep-th)
paper · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2407.20316
We use branes to generalize the Distance Conjecture. We conjecture that in any infinite-distance limit in the moduli space of a d-dimensional quantum gravity theory, among the set of particle towers and fundamental branes with at most pmax≤ d-2 spacetime dimensions, at least one has mass/tension decreasing exponentially T∼ exp(-αΔ) with the moduli space distance Δ at a rate of at least α≥ 1/√(d-pmax-1). Since pmax can vary, this represents multiple conditions, where the Sharpened Distance Conjecture is the pmax=1 case. This conjecture is a necessary condition imposed on higher-dimensional theories in order for the Sharpened Distance Conjecture to hold in lower-dimensional theories. We test our conjecture in theories with maximal and half-maximal supersymmetry in diverse dimensions, finding that it is satisfied and often saturated. In some cases where it is saturated -- most notably, heterotic string theory in 10 dimensions -- we argue that novel, low-tension non-supersymmetric branes must exist. We also identify patterns relating the rates at which various brane tensions vary in infinite-distance limits and relate these tensions to the species scale.