Stabilizing Moduli with String Cosmology

TL;DR

This paper explores how finite temperature quantum corrections in string cosmology can stabilize volume moduli through enhanced symmetry states, offering insights into dark matter and moduli trapping mechanisms.

Contribution

It introduces a stabilization mechanism for moduli via one-loop free energy effects from enhanced symmetry states, and discusses moduli trapping as a way to maintain stabilization.

Findings

Finite temperature corrections can stabilize volume moduli.

Enhanced symmetry states influence the one-loop free energy.

Moduli trapping can recover stabilization at late times.

Abstract

In this talk I will discuss the role of finite temperature quantum corrections in string cosmology and show that they can lead to a stabilization mechanism for the volume moduli. I will show that from the higher dimensional perspective this results from the effect of states of enhanced symmetry on the one-loop free energy. These states lead not only to stabilization, but also suggest an alternative model for cold dark matter. At late times, when the low energy effective field theory gives the appropriate description of the dynamics, the moduli will begin to slow-roll and stabilization will generically fail. However, stabilization can be recovered by considering cosmological particle production near the points of enhanced symmetry leading to the process known as moduli trapping.