Quintessence and the Swampland: The parametrically controlled regime of moduli space

TL;DR

The paper demonstrates that slow roll quintessence cannot be realized in the controlled regimes of string theory moduli space, implying such models must be constructed in less controlled, interior regions.

Contribution

It provides a general proof that slow roll is impossible in parametric regimes of string moduli space, guiding future quintessence model building.

Findings

Slow roll is not possible in parametric regimes of moduli space.

Results apply to type II and heterotic Calabi-Yau compactifications.

Building quintessence requires working in the interior of moduli space.

Abstract

We provide evidence that slow roll is not possible in any parametrically controlled regime of the moduli space of string theory. This is proven in full generality in the asymptotic limit of the moduli space of type II and heterotic Calabi-Yau compactifications for the dilaton and any number of K\"ahler moduli. Our results suggest that in order to build quintessence into string theory one must work in the interior of moduli space where numerical, even if not parametric, control could still be achieved.