On Volume Stabilization by Quantum Corrections

TL;DR

This paper explores how perturbative string corrections can stabilize the volume modulus in type IIB compactifications without relying on non-perturbative effects, highlighting potential for volume stabilization through known corrections.

Contribution

It demonstrates the possibility of stabilizing the volume modulus using only perturbative corrections, without non-perturbative effects, in type IIB orientifold compactifications.

Findings

Perturbative corrections break no-scale structure enabling volume stabilization.

Combining string loop and alpha' corrections provides enough flexibility for stabilization.

Explicit models for stabilization without non-perturbative effects are not yet constructed.

Abstract

We discuss prospects for stabilizing the volume modulus of N=1 supersymmetric type IIB orientifold compactifications using only perturbative corrections to the Kahler potential. Concretely, we consider the known string loop corrections and tree-level alpha' corrections. They break the no-scale structure of the potential, which otherwise prohibits stabilizing the volume modulus. We argue that when combined, these corrections provide enough flexibility to stabilize the volume of the internal space without non-perturbative effects, although we are not able to present a completely explicit example within the limited set of currently available models. Furthermore, a certain amount of fine-tuning is needed to obtain a minimum at large volume.