arXiv subjects

Heliudson Bernardo

Publications and source records attributed to Heliudson Bernardo.

35 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2021

Contracting Cosmologies and the Swampland

We consider the cosmology obtained using scalar fields with a negative potential energy, such as employed to obtain an Ekpyrotic phase of contraction. Applying the covariant entropy bound to the tower of states dictated by the distance conjecture, we find that the relative slope of the potential $|V^{\prime}| / |V|$ is bounded from below by a constant of the order one in Planck units. This is consistent with the requirement to obtain slow Ekpyrotic contraction. We also derive a refined condition on the potential which holds near local minima of a negative potential.

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arXiv2021

The four-dimensional null energy condition as a swampland conjecture

We analyze four-dimensional Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker cosmologies in type IIB, arising from a M-theory dual, and find that the null energy condition (NEC) has to be obeyed by them (except for the negatively curved case) in order for the M-theory action to have a Wilsonian effective description. However, this does not imply that the M-theory metric has to obey the 11d NEC. Thus, we propose a new swampland conjecture -- the 4d NEC is a consistency condition for any theory to have a completion within M-theory -- with an explicit derivation of it for cosmological backgrounds from a top-down perspective. We briefly discuss the cosmological consequences of such a condition derived from M-theory.

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arXiv2021

de Sitter Space as a Glauber-Sudarshan State: II

We provide further evidence to support the fact that a four-dimensional effective field theory description with de Sitter isometries in IIB string theory, overcoming the no-go and the swampland criteria, can only exist if de Sitter space is realized as a Glauber-Sudarshan state. We show here that this result is independent of the choice of de Sitter slicings. The Glauber-Sudarshan state, constructed by shifting the interacting vacuum in the M-theory uplift of the scenario, differs from a standard coherent state in QFT in the sense that the shape and size of the state changes with respect to time, implying changes in the graviton and the flux quanta. Despite this, the expectation values of the graviton and flux operators in such a state reproduce the exact de Sitter background, as long as we are within the temporal bound set by the onset of the strong coupling in the dual type IIA side, and satisfy the corresponding Schwinger-Dyson's equations in the presence of hierarchically controlled perturbative and non-perturbative quantum corrections. Additionally, we provide a detailed study of the fluxes supporting the Glauber-Sudarshan state in the M-theory uplift of the IIB scenario. We show explicitly how the Bianchi identities, anomaly cancellation and flux quantization conditions, along-with the constraints from the Schwinger-Dyson's equations, conspire together to provide the necessary temporal dependences to support such a state in full M-theory. We also discuss how our analysis points towards a surprising connection to the four-dimensional null energy condition, for a Friedman-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker state in the IIB side, as a consistency condition for the existence of an effective field theory description in M-theory.

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arXiv2021

Cosmology at the top of the $α'$ tower

The cosmology of the fully $α'$-corrected duality-invariant action for the Neveu-Schwarz sector of string theory is revisited, with special emphasis on its coupling to matter sources. The role of the duality covariant pressure and dilatonic charge of the matter sector is explored in various contexts, from the low-curvature regime to non-perturbative solutions in $α'$. We comment on how an infinite tower of $α'$ corrections allows for fixed-dilaton de Sitter solutions, even in vacuum. We further investigate the necessary conditions for accelerated expansion in the Einstein frame, as well as for non-singular bounces that could resolve the big bang singularity. In particular, explicit examples are constructed, which show that the tower of $α'$ corrections may support an Einstein-frame non-singular cosmological bouncing background, even when the matter sector respects the null energy condition.

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arXiv2021

Kalb-Ramond backgrounds in $α'$-complete cosmology

We study the matter-coupled equations of motion for cosmological NS massless fields including all $α'$ corrections in an O$(d,d)$ duality invariant approach, with emphasis on the Kalb-Ramond two-form field $B_{(2)}$ and its source. Solutions for the vacuum and matter case are found and the corresponding Einstein frame cosmologies are discussed. We also show that the ansatz for $B_{(2)}$ required by the duality invariant framework implies that the two-form is non-isotropic.

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arXiv2021

Purely non-perturbative AdS vacua and the swampland

In recent times, a considerable effort has been dedicated to identify certain conditions -- the so-called swampland conjectures -- with an eye on identifying effective theories which have no consistent UV-completions in string theory. In this paper, we examine the anti-de Sitter vacua corresponding to solutions which arise from purely non-perturbative contributions to the superpotential and show that these solutions satisfy the (axionic) weak gravity conjecture and the AdS-moduli scale separation conjecture. We also sketch out their advantages over other constructions.

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arXiv2021

String Cosmology backgrounds from Classical String Geometry

We introduce a very early universe model based on the thermodynamics of a gas of closed strings in a background which is non-perturbative in $α'$. Upon considering the fully $α'$-corrected equations extended to include certain anisotropic cosmological backgrounds, we describe the evolution of the system in three different stages parametrized by the gas' equation of state. Using standard string thermodynamical arguments, we start with an isotropic 10-dimensional universe inside the string scale and evolve it towards a universe with four large spacetime dimensions and six stabilized internal dimensions in the Einstein frame.

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arXiv2020

Crisis on Infinite Earths: Short-lived de Sitter Vacua in the String Theory Landscape

We construct purely non-perturbative anti-de Sitter vacua in string theory which, on uplifting to a de Sitter (dS) one, have a decay time many orders of magnitude smaller than those of standard constructions, such as the KKLT and LVS scenarios. By virtue of being constructed purely from non-perturbative terms, these vacua avoids certain obstructions plaguing other constructions of dS in string theory. This results in a new class of phenomenological dS vacua in string theory with novel distinctive characteristics such as having two maxima. After examining whether these uplifted dS vacua obey the TCC, we revisit some old problems of realization of dS space as a vacuum. We find that not only is it phenomenologically hard to construct TCC-compatible vacua, but also inherent temporal dependences of the degrees of freedom generically arise in such constructions, amongst other issues. This reinforces the idea that dS, if it exists in string theory, should be a Glauber-Sudarshan state and not a vacuum.

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arXiv2020

Solution of the Size and Horizon Problems from Classical String Geometry

In a recent paper we developed a string cosmology background from classical string geometry. Here, we show that this background yields a solution to the size and horizon problems of Standard Big Bang cosmology while remaining compatible with the Transplanckian Censorship Conjecture. We also take a first look at the evolution of cosmological perturbations in this model.

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arXiv2020

$α'$-Cosmology: solutions and stability analysis

We review O$(d,d)$ Covariant String Cosmology to all orders in $α'$ in the presence of matter and study its solutions. We show that the perturbative analysis for a constant dilaton in the absence of a dilatonic charge does not lead to a time-independet equation of state. Meanwhile, the non-perturbative equations of motion allow de Sitter solutions in the String frame parametrized by the equation of state and the dilatonic charge. Among this set of solutions, we show that a cosmological constant equation of state implies a de Sitter solution both in String and Einstein frames while a winding equation of state implies a de Sitter solution in the former and a static phase in the latter. We also consider the stability of these solutions under homogeneous linear perturbations and show that they are not unstable, therefore defining viable cosmological scenarios.

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arXiv2020

O$(d,d)$ covariant String Cosmology to all orders in $α^{\prime}$

Recently, all duality invariant $α'$-corrections to the massless NS-NS sector of string theory on time-dependent backgrounds were classified and the form of their contribution to the action were calculated. In this paper we introduce matter sources in the resulting equations of motion in an O$(d,d)$ covariant way. We show that either starting with the corrected equations and sourcing them with matter or considering corrections to the matter sourced lowest order equations give the same set of equations that defines string cosmology to all orders in $α'$. We also discuss perturbative and non-perturbative de Sitter solutions including matter.

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arXiv2019

On the TransPlanckian Censorship Conjecture in Holographic Cosmology

In this letter we discuss the implications of the recently proposed TransPlanckian Censorship Conjecture (TCC) for Holographic Cosmology. For models of holographic inflation that are dual to inverse renormalization group (RG) flows, assuming the TCC to be true, we found a bound on the running of the field theory coupling and the corresponding maximum energy scale above which the RG flow should be modified. We also discuss on the transPlanckian problem in non-geometrical holographic models.

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arXiv2019

Unruh Duality and Maximum Acceleration in String Theory

It is argued that the Unruh effect may be interpreted as a duality of a theory on different backgrounds. This issue is revisited in String Theory in the path integral formalism. By using T-duality and the Unruh effect, the T-dual transformation for acceleration is investigated and a maximum effective physical acceleration for observers in String Theory is found.

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arXiv2019

Holographic cosmology from "dimensional reduction" of ${\cal N}=4$ SYM vs. $AdS_5\times S^5$

We propose a way to obtain holographic cosmology models for 3+1 dimensional cosmologies vs. 3 dimensional field theories from a "dimensional reduction" procedure, obtained by integrating over the time direction, of (modifed) standard holographic duals of 3+1 dimensional field theories. The example of a modified ${\cal N}=4$ SYM vs. $AdS_5\times S^5$ is presented, and in perturbation theory doesn't match observations, though at strong coupling it might. But the proposed mechanism is more general, and it could in principle be applied to other top down holographic models.

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arXiv2019

T-Dual Cosmological Solutions of Double Field Theory II

In this paper we present cosmological solutions of Double Field Theory in the supergravity frame and in the winding frame which are related via T-duality. In particular, we show that the solutions can be viewed without the need of complexifying the cosmological scale factor.

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arXiv2018

Conformal inflation with chameleon coupling

We investigate the possibility that the inflaton, in particular in conformal inflation models, is also a chameleon, i.e. that it couples to the energy density of some heavy non-relativistic matter present during inflation. We find new and interesting attractor behaviours, either prolonging inflation, or changing the observables $n_s,r$, depending on the sign of the chameleon coupling exponent. We also check that the chameleon coupling with the heavy matter field strongly suppress entropy modes during inflation.

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arXiv2016

Small field inflation in ${\cal N}=1$ supergravity with a single chiral superfield

We consider "new inflation" inflationary models at small fields, embedded in minimal ${\cal N}=1$ supergravity with a single chiral superfield. Imposing a period of inflation compatible with experiment severely restricts possible models, classified in perturbation theory. If moreover we impose that the field goes to large values and very small potential at the current time, like would be needed for instance for the inflaton being the volume modulus in large extra dimensional scenarios, the possible models are restricted to very contrived superpotentials.

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