We describe the construction of large classes of explicit string theory backgrounds corresponding to 6d and 4d chiral theories with end of the world boundaries, and describe the strong coupling phenomena involved in gapping the chiral (but non-anomalous) sets of fields, such as strongly coupled phase transitions or symmetric mass generation. One class of 6d constructions is closely related to chirality changing phase transitions, such as those turning heterotic NS5-branes into gauge instantons, in flat space or orbifold singularities. A class of 4d models exploits systems of IIB D3-branes at toric CY3 singularities with an extra involution related to holonomy manifolds in the type IIB picture and its IIA mirror, which we explicitly describe in terms of dimer diagrams.

Spain

Roberta Angius

Angel Uranga

Chuying Wang

End of the world boundaries for chiral quantum gravity theories

Dynamical Cobordism provides a powerful method to probe infinite distance limits in moduli/field spaces parameterized by scalars constrained by generic potentials, employing configurations of codimension-1 end of the world (ETW) branes. These branes, characterized in terms of critical exponents, mark codimension-1 boundaries in the spacetime in correspondence of finite spacetime distance singularities at which the scalars diverge. Using these tools, we explore the network of infinite distance singularities in the complex structure moduli space of Calabi-Yau fourfolds compactifications in M-theory with a four-form flux turned on, which is described in terms of normal intersecting divisors classified by asymptotic Hodge theory. We provide spacetime realizations for these loci in terms of networks of intersecting codimension-1 ETW branes classified by specific critical exponents which encapsulate the relevant information of the asymptotic Hodge structure characterizing the corresponding divisors.

End of the world brane networks for infinite distance limits in CY moduli space

We consider the topological defect lines commuting with the spectral flow and the   <math> <mi>N</mi> </math>  $$ \mathcal{N} $$  = (4, 4) superconformal symmetry in two dimensional non-linear sigma models on K3. By studying their fusion with boundary states, we derive a number of general results for the category of such defects. We argue that while for certain K3 models infinitely many simple defects, and even a continuum, can occur, at generic points in the moduli space the category is actually trivial, i.e. it is generated by the identity defect. Furthermore, we show that if a K3 model is at the attractor point for some BPS configuration of D-branes, then all topological defects have integral quantum dimension. We also conjecture that a continuum of topological defects arises if and only if the K3 model is a (possibly generalized) orbifold of a torus model. Finally, we test our general results in a couple of examples, where we provide a partial classification of the topological defects.

Italy

Stefano Giaccari

Roberto Volpato

Topological defects in K3 sigma models

Dynamical cobordisms implement the swampland cobordism conjecture in the framework of effective field theory, realizing codimension-1 end of the world (ETW) branes as singularities at finite spacetime distance at which scalars diverge to infinite field space distance. ETW brane solutions provide a useful probe of infinity in moduli/field spaces and the associated swampland constraints, such as the distance conjecture.

Andriana Makridou

Intersecting end of the world branes

Small black holes are a powerful tool to explore infinite distances in moduli spaces. However, we show that in 4d theories with a scalar potential growing fast enough at infinity, it is energetically too costly for scalars to diverge at the core, and the small black hole puffs up into a regular black hole, or follows a runaway behaviour.

Jesús Huertas

Small black hole explosions

We describe timelike linear dilaton backgrounds of supercritical string theories as time-dependent Dynamical Cobordisms in string theory, with their spacelike singularity as a boundary defining the beginning of time. We propose and provide compelling evidence that its microscopic interpretation corresponds to a region of (a strong coupling version of) closed tachyon condensation. We argue that this beginning of time is closely related to (and shares the same scaling behaviour as) the bubbles of nothing obtained in a weakly coupled background with lightlike tachyon condensation. As an intermediate result, we also provide the description of the latter as lightlike Dynamical Cobordism.

Matilda Delgado

Dynamical Cobordism and the beginning of time: supercritical strings and tachyon condensation

The Cobordism Conjecture states that any Quantum Gravity configuration admits, at topological level, a boundary ending spacetime. We study the dynamical realization of cobordism, as spacetime dependent solutions of Einstein gravity coupled to scalars containing such end-of-the-world ‘branes’. The latter appear in effective theory as a singularity at finite spacetime distance at which scalars go off to infinite field space distance. We provide a local description near the end-of-the-world branes, in which the solutions simplify dramatically and are characterized in terms of a critical exponent, which controls the asymptotic profiles of fields and the universal scaling relations among the spacetime distance to the singularity, the field space distance, and the spacetime curvature. The analysis does not rely on supersymmetry. We study many explicit examples of such Local Dynamical Cobordisms in string theory, including 10d massive IIA, the 10d non-supersymmetric USp(32) theory, Bubbles of Nothing, 4d 𝒩 = 1 cosmic string solutions, the Klebanov-Strassler throat, Dp-brane solutions, brane configurations related to the D1/D5 systems, and small black holes. Our framework encompasses diverse recent setups in which scalars diverge at the core of defects, by regarding them as suitable end-of-the-world branes. We explore the interplay of Local Dynamical Cobordisms with the Distance Conjecture and other swampland constraints.