L. Susskind discusses the "landscape" of string theory vacua, which is an incredibly large and diverse set of solutions. Based on recent research, it is plausible that the number of vacua is astronomically large, measured in googles or googleplexes. These vacua are characterized by scalar fields and a potential energy, with the supermoduli-space being a special subset where vacua are supersymmetric and have zero cosmological constant. However, most vacua in the landscape have non-zero cosmological constants, and the number of such vacua is likely enormous, making it statistically probable to find one with a cosmological constant in the observed range.
The landscape is a complex terrain in field space, with hills and valleys representing different vacua. The cosmological constant is a key parameter, and the landscape includes both supersymmetric and non-supersymmetric vacua. The non-supersymmetric vacua are likely to have finite cosmological constants, and their existence is not inconsistent with current knowledge.
The paper also discusses the challenges of de Sitter space, which is a solution to Einstein's equations with a positive cosmological constant. It is questionable whether de Sitter space has a precise meaning in quantum gravity. The paper argues that de Sitter space is at best a metastable state and that its stability is problematic. The paper also discusses the instability of de Sitter vacua, which can tunnel to other vacua, and the possibility of bubble cosmology, where regions of space with different vacua can form.
The paper concludes that string theory provides a framework for studying the landscape of vacua, and that the anthropic principle may be relevant in selecting vacua that can support life. The paper also discusses the challenges of defining de Sitter vacua in a quantum mechanical framework and the importance of understanding the cosmological evolution of the landscape. The paper suggests that the landscape may be sampled by bubble formation, and that the probability of finding a vacuum suitable for life is large. The paper also discusses the conceptual problems of global descriptions of spacetime and the need for a consistent quantum mechanical framework.L. Susskind discusses the "landscape" of string theory vacua, which is an incredibly large and diverse set of solutions. Based on recent research, it is plausible that the number of vacua is astronomically large, measured in googles or googleplexes. These vacua are characterized by scalar fields and a potential energy, with the supermoduli-space being a special subset where vacua are supersymmetric and have zero cosmological constant. However, most vacua in the landscape have non-zero cosmological constants, and the number of such vacua is likely enormous, making it statistically probable to find one with a cosmological constant in the observed range.
The landscape is a complex terrain in field space, with hills and valleys representing different vacua. The cosmological constant is a key parameter, and the landscape includes both supersymmetric and non-supersymmetric vacua. The non-supersymmetric vacua are likely to have finite cosmological constants, and their existence is not inconsistent with current knowledge.
The paper also discusses the challenges of de Sitter space, which is a solution to Einstein's equations with a positive cosmological constant. It is questionable whether de Sitter space has a precise meaning in quantum gravity. The paper argues that de Sitter space is at best a metastable state and that its stability is problematic. The paper also discusses the instability of de Sitter vacua, which can tunnel to other vacua, and the possibility of bubble cosmology, where regions of space with different vacua can form.
The paper concludes that string theory provides a framework for studying the landscape of vacua, and that the anthropic principle may be relevant in selecting vacua that can support life. The paper also discusses the challenges of defining de Sitter vacua in a quantum mechanical framework and the importance of understanding the cosmological evolution of the landscape. The paper suggests that the landscape may be sampled by bubble formation, and that the probability of finding a vacuum suitable for life is large. The paper also discusses the conceptual problems of global descriptions of spacetime and the need for a consistent quantum mechanical framework.