A New Handle on de Sitter Compactifications

Abstract

We construct a large new class of de Sitter (and anti de Sitter) vacua of critical string theory from flux compactifications on products of Riemann surfaces. In the construction, the leading effects stabilizing the moduli are perturbative. We show that these effects self-consistently dominate over standard estimates for further $α^\prime$ and quantum corrections, via tuning available from large flux and brane quantum numbers.

26 pages, harvmac big. v2: Correction generalizing specific ingredients required for tunable negative term; conclusions and structure of potential unchanged