Challenges for Moduli Stabilization and String Cosmology near the Conifold

TL;DR

This paper reviews moduli stabilization near the conifold in string theory, highlighting challenges and potential for large-field inflation, while emphasizing the limitations of current effective theories in this context.

Contribution

It analyzes the features and obstacles of moduli stabilization near the conifold, providing insights into its implications for string cosmology and inflation models.

Findings

Logarithmic structure of periods influences stabilization

Exponential superpotential terms resemble non-perturbative effects

Obstacles in effective theories may affect realistic models

Abstract

This brief article reviews a recently proposed scenario of moduli stabilization constructed in the vicinity of a conifold locus in the complex structure moduli space. We discuss typical features of moduli stabilization due to the logarithmic structure of the periods over the Calabi-Yau threefold. Integrating out heavy moduli implies exponential terms in the superpotential very reminiscent of non-perturbative contributions. Ultimately, these terms can lead to an alignment of axions potentially realizing large-field inflation. Our goal is to investigate common issues appearing for moduli stabilization near the conifold and subsequent applications to string cosmology. Even though this setup needs to be understood as a toy model, a closer look at the validity of the effective theories reveals characteristic obstacles, which are likely to occur in more serious scenarios as well.