Events at Physics |
Events on Wednesday, May 8th, 2024
- Academic Calendar
- Final Exams
- Abstract: *Note: actual end time may vary.* URL:
- Theory Seminar (High Energy/Cosmology)
- The Minimal Weak Gravity Conjecture
- Time: 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm
- Place: 5280 Chamberlin
- Speaker: Alessandro Mininno, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY
- Abstract: I examine the minimal constraints imposed by the Weak Gravity Conjecture (WGC) on the particle spectrum of a quantum gravity theory. Recently, we have argued for the existence of a minimal radius for circle reductions of generic quantum gravity theories. Below this threshold, the notion of a circle compactification breaks down, bypassing the need for a tower of super-extremal states to satisfy the WGC after circle reduction. Based on this, we propose that if a theory satisfies the WGC at the particle level below the black hole threshold, these states are sufficient for consistency under dimensional reduction, even in absence of a tower of super-extremal particles. Evidence for this main result is found in F-, M- and string theory compactifications. The only exception to the appearance of a minimal radius arises in asymptotically weak-coupling limits for heterotic strings, which aligns with the appearance of a weakly coupled super-extremal tower of particle states. This observation motivates a Minimal Weak Gravity Conjecture which states that towers of super-extremal particles occur if and only if they are required by consistency of the WGC under dimensional reduction. The talk is based on [2312.04619].
- Host: Gary Shiu