Brane/flux annihilation transitions and nonperturbative moduli stabilization

TL;DR

This paper reevaluates brane/flux annihilation in warped compactifications, showing how fluxes and moduli stabilization influence decay processes, with implications for volume changes and fine-tuning in string theory models.

Contribution

It extends Kahler moduli stabilization calculations to include larger antibranes, revealing new decay scenarios and the impact on compactification volume during transitions.

Findings

Decay can proceed, be forbidden, or cause decompactification depending on fluxes.

Kahler modulus gains a contribution from 3-brane tension, affecting volume changes.

Potential reduction in fine-tuning for large volume stabilization.

Abstract

By extending the calculation of Kahler moduli stabilization to account for an embiggened antibrane, we reevaluate brane/flux annihilation in a warped throat with one stabilized Kahler modulus. We find that depending on the relative size of various fluxes three things can occur: the decay process proceeds unhindered, the anti-D3-branes are forbidden to decay classically, or the entire space decompactifies. Additionally, we show that the Kahler modulus receives a contribution from the collective 3-brane tension. This allows for a significant change in compactified volume during the transition and possibly mitigates some fine tuning otherwise required to achieve large volume.