Swampland Conjectures for an Almost Topological Gravity Theory

TL;DR

This paper explores the compatibility of a three-dimensional almost topological gravity theory with swampland conjectures, revealing its potential role in non-critical M-theory and its quantum properties.

Contribution

It demonstrates that a 3D higher spin gravity theory aligns with swampland conjectures and connects to non-critical M-theory, highlighting its quantum break time behavior.

Findings

Topologically massive gravity fits swampland conjectures.

Quantum break time scales as inverse Hubble parameter.

Supports the link between 3D gravity and non-critical M-theory.

Abstract

We analyze AdS and dS swampland conjectures in a three-dimensional higher spin theory with self-interacting matter, which contains conformal gravity and is almost topological. A theory of a similar type was proposed as the effective theory in the high energy phase of non-critical M-theory in 3D. With some details differing from the usual string theory story, it is found that the resulting effective theory, namely topologically massive gravity, fits well into the web of the proposed swampland conjectures. Supporting a recent proposal, in particular we find that this 3D theory gives rise to a quantum break time that scales like $t_Q\sim H^{-1}$.