SPS Journal Club: Symmetric Moduli Spaces, the Swampland Distance Conjecture (…and the Emergent String Conjecture?)

Speaker: Bernardo Fraiman (IFT)

Venue&Time: Red Room / 12:00

Abstract: For non-compact, locally symmetric moduli spaces M, the set of geodesics and the geometry of the boundary can be completely characterised using group theory. Under the assumption that M is «compactifiable» and some mild conditions on the spectrum of states, we prove the SDC for all locally symmetric spaces. We show that the states necessarily transform in some representation of the local isometry group, and that the convex hull encoding the exponential rate at which the leading tower of states becomes light coincides with the convex hull of the weights of the representation.

In this talk I will discuss briefly some aspects of the proof, the domain of applicability of our assumptions and their limitations. If time permits, I will also explain how the relation between towers and weights allows one to classify moduli spaces, particle state representations and space time dimensions compatible with the Emergent String Conjecture. Based on 2508.18401 and work in progress.