arXiv subjects

Amineh Mohseni

Publications and source records attributed to Amineh Mohseni.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Asymptotic limits in class-$\mathcal{S}$ theories and non-Abelian Hodge theory

We develop a non-Abelian Hodge-theoretic refinement of asymptotic limits in type-$A$ class-$\mathcal S$ theories, enriching the geometric description of the degenerating UV curve with gauge-theoretic data encoded by the associated Hitchin system. A degeneration of the UV curve produces a long plumbing tube, which we equip with the local monodromy data of a Hitchin-Simpson flat connection admitting a regular-singular logarithmic model. The semisimple and unipotent parts of the monodromy govern, respectively, the power-law and logarithmic growth of flat sections through the tube. Combining this non-Abelian holonomy with the geometric Picard-Lefschetz monodromy yields a decorated cusp label that incorporates Higgs-bundle information and extends tube-wise to intersections of boundary divisors. For each tube, we require the weak gauge algebra specified by the fixture and gluing data to lie in the reductive monodromy centralizer. In type $A$, we organize the local monodromy labels into discrete types specified by the eigenspace multiplicities of the semisimple part and the Jordan type of the nilpotent logarithm of the unipotent part. Finally, we illustrate the construction for $SL(3,\mathbb C)$ on the four-punctured sphere and $SL(4,\mathbb C)$ on the two-punctured torus.

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arXiv2026

The CFT Distance Conjecture and Tensionless String Limits in $\mathcal N=2$ Quiver Gauge Theories

We initiate the study of infinite-distance limits on (complex) multi-dimensional conformal manifolds of 4d SCFTs and their bulk interpretation as tensionless-string limits in AdS/CFT. In particular, we focus on 4d $\mathcal{N}=2$ $SU$ quiver gauge theories with hypermultiplets in the bifundamental and fundamental representations. In the overall-free limit, we compute the large-$N$ Hagedorn temperature $T_H$, which governs the stringy exponential growth of the density of states at high energies. We argue that this quantity determines the type of stringy ultraviolet completion in the bulk: it captures the type of string theory in which the bulk physics is embedded while remaining insensitive to detailed geometric data. For linear quivers, we find that $T_H$ depends only on the quiver length, which is tied to the number of NS5-branes in the underlying brane construction and, in turn, to the string theory in which the bulk is embedded. For holographic quivers, where we impose that the two central charges $a$ and $c$ coincide in the large-$N$ limit, we show that $T_H$ coincides with that of $\mathcal{N}=4$ SYM, which befits the 10d Type IIB description of their gravitational duals. We also analyze the exponential rate $α$, which controls how the leading tower of higher-spin currents becomes conserved in these limits, as suggested by the CFT Distance Conjecture. In the large-$N$ regime, we derive sharp bounds on the minimal rate, $1/\sqrt{2}\le α_{\min}\le \sqrt{2/3}$, attained in the overall-free limit. Moreover, we prove that the universal lower bound $α\ge 1/\sqrt{2}$ holds, including at finite $N$. Finally, we go beyond the overall-free ray by characterizing the convex hull of the $\vecα$-vectors that encode the exponential rate of the higher-spin towers along any (partial) weak-coupling limit.

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arXiv2026

Symmetry Points of $\mathcal{N}=1$ Modular Geometry

We consider 4d $\mathcal{N}=1$ supergravity theories with modular symmetry, where the modulus $τ$ is the upper half-plane modulo $SL(2,\mathbf{Z})$ action. We focus on enhanced discrete gauge symmetry points $τ=i, \exp(2πi/3)$, and argue that, if there are no new additional massless fields at these points, they will always be critical points of the scalar potential. Moreover, we show that whether these correspond to dS, AdS, or Minkowski vacua can be generically determined simply by the weight of the superpotential under modular transformations. We also analyze the asymptotics of the scalar potential and find that compatibility with the Swampland principles implies that, if nonvanishing, the scalar potential decays either exponentially or double-exponentially, and that the asymptotic slope is bounded. The slope is governed by the superpotential weight as well as by real-analytic modular contributions to the Kähler potential.

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arXiv2025

On Measuring Distances in the Quantum Gravity Landscape

In this note, we propose a generalized notion of distance between vacua in the theory of a scalar field $ϕ$ with scalar potential $V(ϕ)$ coupled to gravity. We propose the normalized tension of domain wall connecting different field values, with a varying normalization relative to a local energy scale, as the distance. We show this definition reproduces the usual moduli space distance for zero potential, as well as the $d\propto |\log Λ|$ behavior with the vacuum energy $Λ$ in the AdS case, previously proposed in the literature. In the case of large AdS we also obtain the expected exponent of mass versus distance in one particular case, when the mass of the light tower is $m\sim \sqrt Λ$ and there is a single extra dimension decompactifying. We also discuss the features and shortcomings of alternative but related proposals.

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arXiv2024

Confinement from Distance in Metric Space and its Relation to Cosmological Constant

We argue that, in a theory of quantum gravity, the gauge coupling and the confinement scale of a gauge theory are related to distance in the space of metric configurations, and in turn to the cosmological constant. To support the argument, we compute the gauge kinetic functions in variuos supersymmetric Heterotic and type II string compactifications and show that they depend on distance. According to the swampland program, the distance between two (anti) de Sitter vacua in the space of metric configurations is proportional to the logarithm of the ratio of cosmological constants and thus the confinement scale depends on the value of the cosmological constant. In this framework, for de Sitter space, we revisit the swampland Festina Lente bound and gauge theories in the dark dimension scenario. We show that if the Festina Lente bound is realized in a de Sitter vacuum and dependence on distance is strong enough, it will be realized in vacua with higher cosmological constants. In dark dimension scenario, as the value of cosmological constant is related to the decompactifying dimension, we find that the confinement scale is indeed related to radius of dark dimension. We show that in this scenario the Festina Lente bound holds for the standard model QCD, as well as all confining gauge groups with $N_c\lesssim 10^3$.

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arXiv2023

Higgs in Nilpotent Supergravity: Vacuum Energy and Festina Lente

In this note we study supergravity models with constrained superfields. We construct a supergravity framework in which all (super)symmetry breaking dynamics happen in vacuum with naturally (or otherwise asymptotically) vanishing energy. Supersymmetry is generically broken in multiple sectors each of them is parametrized by a nilpotent goldstino superfield. Dynamical fields (the Higgs, inflaton, etc) below the supersymmetry breaking scale are constrained superfields of various types. In this framework, there is a dominant supersymmetry breaking sector which uplifts the potential to zero value. Other sources of supersymmetry breaking have (asymptotically) vanishing contribution to vacuum energy such that supersymmetry is locally restored. Demanding vanishing vacuum energy constrains the structure of the superpotential and Kahler potential; there is a superpotential term for each secluded sector directly interacting with a nilpotent superfield and the Kahler potential must have a shift symmetry along Higgs field directions. This structure is inspired by elements that appear in string theory. We also study the Higgs dynamics during inflation and show that the swampland Festina Lente bound could be realized in this framework.

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