Single versus multifield scalar potentials from string theory
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| Format: | Preprint |
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2025
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| author | Andriot, David Rajaguru, Muthusamy Tringas, George |
| author_facet | Andriot, David Rajaguru, Muthusamy Tringas, George |
| contents | In this work, we investigate the properties of string effective theories with scalar field(s) and a scalar potential. We first claim that in most examples known, such theories are multifield, with at least 2 non-compact field directions; the few counter-examples appear to be very specific and isolated. Such a systematic multifield situation has important implications for cosmology. Characterising properties of the scalar potential $V$ is also more delicate in a multifield setting. We provide several examples of string effective theories with $V>0$, where the latter admits an asymptotically flat direction along an off-shell field trajectory: in other words, there exists a limit $φ\rightarrow \infty$ for which $\frac{|\partial_φ V|}{V} \rightarrow 0$. It is thus meaningless to look for a lower bound to this single field quantity in a multifield setting; the complete gradient $\nabla V$ is then better suited. Restricting to on-shell trajectories, this question remains open, especially when following the steepest descent or more generally a gradient flow evolution. Interestingly, single field statements in multifield theories seem less problematic for $V<0$. |
| format | Preprint |
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arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2501_17775 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Single versus multifield scalar potentials from string theory Andriot, David Rajaguru, Muthusamy Tringas, George High Energy Physics - Theory Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology High Energy Physics - Phenomenology Mathematical Physics In this work, we investigate the properties of string effective theories with scalar field(s) and a scalar potential. We first claim that in most examples known, such theories are multifield, with at least 2 non-compact field directions; the few counter-examples appear to be very specific and isolated. Such a systematic multifield situation has important implications for cosmology. Characterising properties of the scalar potential $V$ is also more delicate in a multifield setting. We provide several examples of string effective theories with $V>0$, where the latter admits an asymptotically flat direction along an off-shell field trajectory: in other words, there exists a limit $φ\rightarrow \infty$ for which $\frac{|\partial_φ V|}{V} \rightarrow 0$. It is thus meaningless to look for a lower bound to this single field quantity in a multifield setting; the complete gradient $\nabla V$ is then better suited. Restricting to on-shell trajectories, this question remains open, especially when following the steepest descent or more generally a gradient flow evolution. Interestingly, single field statements in multifield theories seem less problematic for $V<0$. |
| title | Single versus multifield scalar potentials from string theory |
| topic | High Energy Physics - Theory Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology High Energy Physics - Phenomenology Mathematical Physics |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2501.17775 |