arXiv subjects

Damian van de Heisteeg

Publications and source records attributed to Damian van de Heisteeg.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Arithmetic of Duality Defects in 4d Maxwell Theory

We study the arithmetic structure of non-invertible duality defects in 4d $U(1)$ Maxwell theory. First, we recast the problem of realizing an elliptic $SL(2,\mathbb{Q})$ transformation as a duality defect in terms of complex multiplication for two-tori. The resulting classification includes well-studied cases in the literature, but extends to infinite Diophantine families of defects at a given gauge coupling. Second, we describe their worldvolume theories explicitly, with the Chern--Simons couplings determined by using continued fractions and tridiagonal continuant matrices. Third, we work out the fusion products of these defects, extracting the condensation defects and decoupled sectors both by lattice arithmetic and from the worldvolume descriptions. Finally, we illustrate our findings with the familiar $N$-ality defects (with $N=2,3$), but also give examples of infinite order.

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arXiv2026

Symmetries and M-theory-like Vacua in Four Dimensions

Non-geometric flux vacua have recently been revisited, leading to the remarkable discovery of isolated 4D ${\mathcal N}=1$ supersymmetric Minkowski vacua. These constructions rely on the non-renormalization of the superpotential, which is supported by heuristic arguments. Given the significance of verifying the existence of these isolated M-theory-like vacua, we present alternative symmetry-based arguments that arrive at the same conclusion. Additionally, we leverage these symmetries to argue for the existence of unstable dS solutions as well as supersymmetric AdS solutions.

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arXiv2026

Axion-Scalar Systems and Dynamical Distances

We study the cosmology of axion-scalar pairs, coupled by a hyperbolic field-space metric and with a string-motivated rational scalar potential. Borrowing tools from the theory of dynamical systems, we are able to classify all late-time trajectories and extract physical properties of the asymptotic solutions. These results suggest a Dynamical Distance Conjecture: along the physical (possibly non-geodesic) trajectories, towers of states become exponentially light as a function of the traversed field-space distance. We further rule out possible counterexamples with wildly oscillating solutions. The considered axion-scalar systems are realized in F-theory compactifications, where the axion-scalar pair is a complex-structure modulus and four-form fluxes induce the asymptotic potentials. We also provide a complete Hodge-theoretic classification of all one-modulus asymptotic potentials of this type.

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arXiv2025

Finiteness and the Emergence of Dualities

We argue that the finiteness of quantum gravity amplitudes in fully compactified theories (at least in supersymmetric cases) leads to a bottom-up prediction for the existence of non-trivial dualities. In particular, finiteness requires the moduli space of massless fields to be compactifiable, meaning that its volume must be finite or at least grow no faster than that of Euclidean space. Moreover, we relate the compactifiability of moduli spaces to the condition that the lattice of charged objects transform in a semisimple representation under the action of the duality group. These ideas are supported by a wide variety of string theory examples.

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arXiv2024

Charting the Complex Structure Landscape of F-theory

We explore the landscape of F-theory compactifications on Calabi--Yau fourfolds whose complex structure moduli space is the thrice-punctured sphere. As a first part, we enumerate all such Calabi--Yau fourfolds under the additional requirement that it has a large complex structure and conifold point at two of the punctures. We find 14 monodromy tuples by demanding the monodromy around infinity to be quasi-unipotent. As second part, we study the four different types of phases arising at infinity. For each we consider a working example where we determine the leading periods and other physical couplings. We also included a notebook that sets up the period vectors for any of these models.

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arXiv2024

Species Scale in Diverse Dimensions

In a quantum theory of gravity, the species scale $Λ_s$ can be defined as the scale at which corrections to the Einstein action become important or alternatively as codifying the "number of light degrees of freedom", due to the fact that $Λ_s^{-1}$ is the smallest size black hole described by the EFT involving only the Einstein term. In this paper, we check the validity of this picture in diverse dimensions and with different amounts of supersymmetry and verify the expected behavior of the species scale at the boundary of the moduli space. This also leads to the evaluation of the species scale in the interior of the moduli space as well as to the computation of the diameter of the moduli space. We also find evidence that the species scale satisfies the bound $\big|{\nabla Λ_s \over Λ_s} \big|^2\leq {1\over d-2}$ all over moduli space including the interior.

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arXiv2024

Exact Flux Vacua, Symmetries, and the Structure of the Landscape

Identifying flux vacua in string theory with stabilized complex structure moduli presents a significant challenge, necessitating the minimization of a scalar potential complicated by infinitely many exponential corrections. In order to obtain exact results we connect three central topics: transcendentality or algebraicity of coupling functions, emergent symmetries, and the distribution of vacua. Beginning with explicit examples, we determine the first exact landscape of flux vacua with a vanishing superpotential within F-theory compactifications on a genuine Calabi-Yau fourfold. We find that along certain symmetry loci in moduli space the generically transcendental vacuum conditions become algebraic and can be described using the periods of a K3 surface. On such loci the vacua become dense when we do not bound the flux tadpole, while imposing the tadpole bound yields a small finite landscape of distinct vacua. Away from these symmetry loci, the transcendentality of the fourfold periods ensures that there are only a finite number of vacua with a vanishing superpotential, even when the tadpole constraint is removed. These observations exemplify the general patterns emerging in the bulk of moduli space that we expose in this work. They are deeply tied to the arithmetic structure underlying flux vacua and generalize the finiteness claims about rational CFTs and rank-two attractors. From a mathematical perspective, our study is linked with the recent landmark results by Baldi, Klingler, and Ullmo about the Hodge locus that arose from connecting tame geometry and Hodge theory.

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arXiv2024

M2-branes on Discs and Multi-Charged Spindles

We study supersymmetric AdS$_2\times Y_9$ solutions of 11d supergravity where $Y_9$ is an $S^7$ fibration over a Riemann surface equipped with a metric of non-constant curvature. We consider two classes of Riemann surface: the first is a spindle and the second is a topological disc. These solutions are interpreted as the near-horizon limit of M2 branes wrapped on the Riemann surface and describe the near-horizon of a 4d black hole. In the case of the topological disc there are additional flavour M2 branes smeared on a five-sphere embedded in the transverse $S^7$. We perform a full global analysis of both classes of solutions, both from a 4d and an 11d viewpoint. Finally we compute the two-dimensional Newton's constant from which we obtain a prediction for the entropy of the black hole.

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arXiv2023

Bounds on Field Range for Slowly Varying Positive Potentials

In the context of quantum gravitational systems, we place bounds on regions in field space with slowly varying positive potentials. Using the fact that $V<Λ_s^2$, where $Λ_s(ϕ)$ is the species scale, and the emergent string conjecture, we show this places a bound on the maximum diameter of such regions in field space: $Δϕ\leq a \log(1/V) +b$ in Planck units, where $a\leq \sqrt{(d-1)(d-2)}$, and $b$ is an $\mathcal{O}(1)$ number and expected to be negative. The coefficient of the logarithmic term has previously been derived using TCC, providing further confirmation. For type II string flux compactifications on Calabi--Yau threefolds, using the recent results on the moduli dependence of the species scale, we can check the above relation and determine the constant $b$, which we verify is $\mathcal{O}(1)$ and negative in all the examples we studied.

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arXiv2023

Beyond Large Complex Structure: Quantized Periods and Boundary Data for One-Modulus Singularities

We study periods in an integral basis near all possible singularities in one-dimensional complex structure moduli spaces of Calabi-Yau threefolds. Near large complex structure points these asymptotic periods are well understood in terms of the topological data of the mirror Calabi-Yau manifold. The aim of this work is to characterize the period data near other boundaries in moduli space such as conifold and K-points. Using results from Hodge theory, we provide the general form of these periods in a quantized three-cycle basis. Based on these periods we compute the prepotential and related physical couplings of the underlying supergravity theory. Moreover, we elucidate the meaning of the model-dependent coefficients that appear in these expressions: these can be identified with certain topological and arithmetic numbers associated to the singular geometry at the moduli space boundary. We illustrate our findings by studying a wide set of examples.

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arXiv2023

Bounds on Species Scale and the Distance Conjecture

The species scale $Λ_s\leq M_{pl}$ serves as a UV cutoff in the gravitational sector of an EFT and can depend on the moduli of the theory as the spectrum of the theory varies. We argue that the dependence of the species scale $Λ_s (ϕ)$ on massless (or light) modes $ϕ^i$ satisfies $M_{pl}^{d-2} |Λ_s'/Λ_s|^2< \mathcal{O}(1)$. This bound is true at all points in moduli space including also its interior. The argument is based on the idea that the short distance contribution of massless modes to gravitational terms in the EFT cannot dramatically affect the black hole entropy. Based on string theory arguments we expect the $\mathcal{O}(1)$ constant in this bound to be equal to ${1\over {d-2}}$ as we approach the boundary of the moduli space. However, we find that the slope of the species scale can approach its asymptotic value from above as we go from interior points to the boundaries, thereby implying that the constant in the bound must be larger than ${1\over {d-2}}$. The bound on the variation of the species scale also implies that the mass of towers of light modes cannot go to zero faster than exponential in field distance in accordance with the Distance Conjecture.

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arXiv2022

Moduli-dependent Species Scale

The counting of the number of light modes in a gravitational theory is captured by the notion of the `species scale', which serves as an effective UV cutoff below the Planck scale. We propose to define a moduli-dependent species scale in the context of 4d, ${\cal N}=2$ theories, using the one loop topological free energy $F_1$, which we relate to a gravitational version of the $a$-function. This leads to $Λ_{\rm sp}\sim 1/\sqrt{F_1}$ from which we recover the expected scaling of the species scale in various corners of the moduli space. Moreover by minimizing $F_1$ we define the center of the moduli space (the `desert point') as a point where the species scale is maximal. At this point the number of light degrees of freedom is minimized.

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arXiv2022

The Tadpole Conjecture in Asymptotic Limits

The tadpole conjecture suggests that the complete stabilization of complex structure deformations in Type IIB and F-theory flux compactifications is severely obstructed by the tadpole bound on the fluxes. More precisely, it states that the stabilization of a large number of moduli requires a flux background with a tadpole that scales linearly in the number of stabilized fields. Restricting to the asymptotic regions of the complex structure moduli space, we give the first conceptual argument that explains this linear scaling setting and clarifies why it sets in only for a large number of stabilized moduli. Our approach relies on the use of asymptotic Hodge theory. In particular, we use the fact that in each asymptotic regime an orthogonal sl(2)-block structure emerges that allows us to group fluxes into sl(2)-representations and decouple complex structure directions. We show that the number of stabilized moduli scales with the number of sl(2)-representations supported by fluxes, and that each representation fixes a single modulus. Furthermore, we find that for Calabi-Yau four-folds all but one representation can be identified with representations occurring on two-folds. This allows us to discuss moduli stabilization explicitly and establish the relevant scaling constraints for the tadpole.

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arXiv2022

Asymptotic String Compactifications; Periods, flux potentials, and the swampland

In this thesis we have studied various applications of asymptotic Hodge theory in string compactifications. This mathematical framework captures how physical couplings of the resulting effective theories behave near field space boundaries where the internal Calabi-Yau manifold degenerates. Below we summarize the three parts in which this thesis is divided. Part I introduces the techniques from asymptotic Hodge theory we used throughout this thesis. We review the results of the nilpotent orbit theorem of Schmid and the multi-variable sl(2)-orbit theorem of Cattani, Kaplan and Schmid. This discussion is tailored to applications in string compactifications, explaining how to describe important physical couplings such as Kähler potentials and flux superpotentials near boundaries in moduli spaces. Part II discusses a geometrical application with the construction of general models for asymptotic periods. Taking the constraints imposed by asymptotic Hodge theory as consistency principles, we develop new methods for constructing these periods. We explicitly carry out our program for all possible one- and two-moduli boundaries. Part III discusses two applications of asymptotic Hodge theory in string compactifications. The first investigates bounds put by the Weak Gravity Conjecture in the setting of 4d $\mathcal{N}=2$ supergravity theories arising from Type IIB Calabi-Yau compactifications. The second application studies flux potentials in asymptotic regimes in complex structure moduli space, where we develop two schemes for moduli stabilization. The first scheme sets up an approximation procedure for finding flux vacua divided in three steps: the sl(2)-approximation, the nilpotent orbit approximation, and the fully corrected result. The second scheme constructs flux vacua with a small flux superpotential by using essential exponential corrections controlled by asymptotic Hodge theory.

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arXiv2021

Moduli Stabilization in Asymptotic Flux Compactifications

We present a novel strategy to systematically study complex-structure moduli stabilization in Type IIB and F-theory flux compactifications. In particular, we determine vacua in any asymptotic regime of the complex-structure moduli space by exploiting powerful tools of asymptotic Hodge theory. In a leading approximation the moduli dependence of the vacuum conditions are shown to be polynomial with a dependence given by sl(2)-weights of the fluxes. This simple algebraic dependence can be extracted in any asymptotic regime, even though in nearly all asymptotic regimes essential exponential corrections have to be present for consistency. We give a pedagogical introduction to the sl(2)-approximation as well as a detailed step-by-step procedure for constructing the corresponding Hodge star operator. To exemplify the construction, we present a detailed analysis of several Calabi-Yau three- and fourfold examples. For these examples we illustrate that the vacua in the sl(2)-approximation match the vacua obtained with all polynomial and essential exponential corrections rather well, and we determine the behaviour of the tadpole contribution of the fluxes. Finally, we discuss the structure of vacuum loci and their relations to several swampland conjectures. In particular, we comment on the realization of the so-called linear scenario in view of the tadpole conjecture.

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arXiv2021

Modeling General Asymptotic Calabi-Yau Periods

In the quests to uncovering the fundamental structures that underlie some of the asymptotic Swampland conjectures we initiate the general study of asymptotic period vectors of Calabi- Yau manifolds. Our strategy is to exploit the constraints imposed by completeness, symmetry, and positivity, which are formalized in asymptotic Hodge theory. We use these general principles to study the periods near any boundary in complex structure moduli space and explain that near most boundaries leading exponentially suppressed corrections must be present for consistency. The only exception are period vectors near the well-studied large complex structure point. Together with the classification of possible boundaries, our procedure makes it possible to construct general models for these asymptotic periods. The starting point for this construction is the sl(2)-data classifying the boundary, which we use to construct the asymptotic Hodge decomposition known as the nilpotent orbit. We then use the latter to determine the asymptotic period vector. We explicitly carry out this program for all possible one- and two-moduli boundaries in Calabi-Yau threefolds and write down general models for their asymptotic periods.

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arXiv2021

Engineering Small Flux Superpotentials and Mass Hierarchies

We study the stabilization of complex structure moduli in Type IIB flux compactifications by using recent general results about the form of the superpotential and Kähler potential near the boundaries of the moduli space. In this process we show how vacua with an exponentially small vacuum superpotential can be realized systematically and understood conceptually within asymptotic Hodge theory. We distinguish two types of vacua realizing such superpotentials that differ by the mass scales of the stabilized moduli. Masses polynomially depending on the moduli arise if the superpotential contains exponential corrections whose existence is required to ensure the non-degeneracy of the moduli space metric. We use the fact that such essential corrections are controlled by asymptotic Hodge theory and have recently been constructed for all one- and two-moduli asymptotic regimes. These insights allow us to obtain new vacua near boundaries in complex structure moduli space that include Seiberg-Witten points. In these examples we find that the scale of the vacuum superpotential can be bounded from below through the exponential of the negative D3-brane tadpole.

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arXiv2021

Bulk Reconstruction in Moduli Space Holography

It was recently suggested that certain UV-completable supersymmetric actions can be characterized by the solutions to an auxiliary non-linear sigma-model with special asymptotic boundary conditions. The space-time of this sigma-model is the scalar field space of these effective theories while the target space is a coset space. We study this sigma-model without any reference to a potentially underlying geometric description. Using a holographic approach reminiscent of the bulk reconstruction in the AdS/CFT correspondence, we then derive its near-boundary solutions for a two-dimensional space-time. Specifying a set of $ Sl(2,\mathbb{R})$ boundary data we show that the near-boundary solutions are uniquely fixed after imposing a single bulk-boundary matching condition. The reconstruction exploits an elaborate set of recursion relations introduced by Cattani, Kaplan, and Schmid in the proof of the $Sl(2)$-orbit theorem. We explicitly solve these recursion relations for three sets of simple boundary data and show that they model asymptotic periods of a Calabi--Yau threefold near the conifold point, the large complex structure point, and the Tyurin degeneration.

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