de Sitter space from M-theory?

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates how de Sitter space can be realized as a vacuum solution within a specific massive IIA supergravity theory derived from M-theory, providing insights into embedding de Sitter space in higher-dimensional supergravity.

Contribution

It shows a novel embedding of de Sitter space into eleven-dimensional supergravity via a massive IIA theory, circumventing previous no-go theorems.

Findings

De Sitter space arises naturally as a vacuum in the studied theory.

The theory avoids traditional no-go theorems against de Sitter vacua.

Eight-branes can sweep out de Sitter world-volumes.

Abstract

In this note we study a massive IIA supergravity theory obtained in hep-th/9707139 by compactification of M-theory. We point out that de Sitter space in arbitrary dimensions arises naturally as the vacuum of this theory. This explicitly shows how de Sitter space can be embedded into eleven-dimensional supergravity. In addition we discuss the novel way in which this theory avoids various `no-go theorems' which assert that de Sitter space is not a consistent vacua of eleven-dimensional supergravity theory. We also point out that the eight-branes of this theory, which couple electrically to the ten-form, can sweep out de Sitter world-volumes.