Obstacles for dS in Supersymmetric Theories

TL;DR

This paper identifies fundamental obstacles to constructing de Sitter space in supersymmetric theories, highlighting issues with critical points in supergravity and instabilities in goldstino dynamics that challenge existing models.

Contribution

It reveals two key obstacles: the limitations of de Sitter critical points in supergravity and the instability of goldstino sectors in non-linear supersymmetry models, impacting de Sitter constructions.

Findings

De Sitter critical points in supergravity have Hubble scales above the UV cutoff.

Goldstino sectors exhibit instabilities leading to condensate formation.

These obstacles challenge the viability of certain de Sitter models in quantum gravity.

Abstract

We present two types of obstacles for constructing de Sitter space in supersymmetric theories that appear as effective theories of quantum gravity. The first obstacle concerns de Sitter critical points in extended supergravity with charged massless gravitini. We show that all such critical points have a Hubble scale of the same order or above the UV cutoff dictated by the magnetic Weak Gravity Conjecture. The second obstacle concerns the dynamics of the goldstino in models with non-linearly realized supersymmetry, such as string models involving anti-branes. We show, using an exact renormalization group approach, that the goldstino sector has an instability toward the formation of condensates, which may have important qualitative consequences for de Sitter constructions involving anti-brane uplifts.