Tensionless Strings Limits in 4d Conformal Manifolds

Jose Calderon-Infante (CERN, Geneva)

Jul 18. 2024, 11:30 — 12:00

Three distinct infinite distance limits appear in the conformal manifolds of four-dimensional superconformal field theories admitting large N limit. They are distinguished by the CFT Distance Conjecture parameter, controlling the exponential behavior with the distance of the anomalous dimension of higher-spin currents. Via AdS/CFT, these correspond to three towers of higher-spin fields becoming exponentially massless at different rates. Borrowing lessons from the moduli spaces of flat space vacua in string theory, we argue that these three limits correspond to three different strings becoming tensionless in AdS. To support this claim, we show that the large N Hagedorn temperature of the CFT in these limits only depends on the CFT Distance Conjecture parameter. Thus, these three limits are physically distinguished by the density of states at high energies. Along the way, we build the first Distance Conjecture convex hull for a CFT and find a remarkable connection to no separation of scales in AdS.

Further Information
Venue:
ESI Boltzmann Lecture Hall
Recordings:
Recording
Files:
Slides
Associated Event:
The Landscape vs. the Swampland (Thematic Programme)
Organizer(s):
Gary Shiu (U of Wisconsin-Madison)
Washington Taylor (MIT, Cambridge)
Irene Valenzuela (CERN, Geneva)
Timm Wrase (Lehigh U, Bethlehem)