Quantum Corrections to Heterotic Moduli Potentials

TL;DR

This paper investigates whether quantum alpha' corrections in heterotic string compactifications can enable stabilization of the volume modulus at large values, similar to mechanisms in type IIB string theory.

Contribution

It derives leading alpha' corrections to heterotic moduli Kahler potentials and explores their role in large volume stabilization.

Findings

Quantum corrections may allow large volume stabilization in heterotic models.

Stabilization is possible under certain conditions despite lower order corrections.

The approach parallels large volume scenarios in type IIB string theory.

Abstract

In a recent paper, we derived the leading alpha' corrections to the Kahler potentials for moduli in (0,2) heterotic compactifications. In the same spirit as the LARGE volume stabilization scenario for type IIB orientifolds, we examine whether these quantum corrections, together with a combination of tree-level and non-perturbative superpotentials, are sufficient to stabilize the overall volume modulus at large values. This is not a priori obvious, since the corrections we found are of a lower order than those used in the type IIB setting. Nevertheless, we find that stabilizing the volume at (exponentially) large values may be possible (under certain conditions) in these heterotic backgrounds.