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Dark energy from string theory: an introductory review

Canonical reference. 100% of citing Pith papers cite this work as background.

12 Pith papers citing it
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abstract

Dark energy, the main constituent in our expanding universe, responsible for its acceleration, is currently being observed with unprecedented precision through various experiments. While several cosmological models can fit this latest data, deriving some of them from string theory would provide a valuable theoretical prior, with information on the nature of dark energy. This article reviews the efforts towards such a derivation, namely the options from string theory to get a cosmological constant (a de Sitter solution) or a dynamical dark energy (via a quintessence model). After providing a brief historical perspective, we first review proven or conjectured constraints on obtaining dark energy from string theory, in classical or asymptotic regimes. Circumventing such obstructions, by changing regime or ansatz, one can try to construct a de Sitter solution: we present a long list of such attempts, and the difficulties encountered. Among them, we discuss in detail efforts towards classical de Sitter solutions. Then, we review quintessence from string theory, focusing on single-field exponential models. Related topics are discussed, including the coupling to matter, the comparison to observational data, and the absence of a cosmological event horizon.

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2026 12

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representative citing papers

$\text{AdS}_D\times I$ solutions in axio-dilaton gravity

hep-th · 2026-06-03 · unverdicted · novelty 7.0

The authors reformulate the equations of motion for AdS_D × I solutions in axio-dilaton gravity as a first-order autonomous dynamical system, identify fixed points and analytic solutions for arbitrary D including in type IIB, and discuss numerical flows in massive IIA.

AdS$_9$ solutions in type II supergravities

hep-th · 2026-06-03 · unverdicted · novelty 6.0

New analytic AdS9 solutions in type IIB with finite action and central charge, numerical massive IIA solutions with diverging action, and perturbative dS9 solutions are constructed in type II supergravities.

Bounding axion dark energy

astro-ph.CO · 2026-04-10 · unverdicted · novelty 6.0

An analytic bound on axion parameters in thawing quintessence is derived independently of initial conditions and used with cosmological observations plus quantum gravity constraints to exclude large regions of axion dark energy parameter space.

Late-Time Oscillating Quintessence in Light of DESI

astro-ph.CO · 2026-06-23 · unverdicted · novelty 5.0

A late-onset oscillating quintessence model improves the fit to DESI plus supernova and CMB data by Delta chi squared of about 9 over Lambda CDM, driven by background expansion.

An Interplay Between Fractional Calculus and Holographic Dark Energy

gr-qc · 2026-06-21 · unverdicted · novelty 5.0

Introduces Fractional Holographic Dark Energy (FHDE) via fractionally corrected entropy from a modified Wheeler-DeWitt equation and studies its late-time cosmology, field reconstructions, and extensions to modified gravity theories.

Moduli Stabilisation for ADD and the Dark Dimension Scenario

hep-th · 2026-06-17 · unverdicted · novelty 5.0

A perturbative stabilization mechanism in the Large Volume Scenario for K3-fibered Calabi-Yau threefolds generates exponentially large 2D base volumes while keeping the 4D fibre small, enabling ADD or Dark Dimension limits with possible dS or quintessence vacua.

Quintessential $\alpha$-attractors fit DESI

hep-th · 2026-06-01 · unverdicted · novelty 5.0

α-attractor quintessence models approximate axion-like potentials and fit DESI dynamical dark energy data, preferring α of order 1 via a simple fa-α relation.

Sharpening the Supersymmetric Axion Weak Gravity Conjecture

hep-th · 2026-05-21 · unverdicted · novelty 5.0

The paper verifies the bound fS/|n| ≤ (π/(2 κ_d)) sqrt((d-1)/(d-2)) for axion instantons and sharpens it to fS/|n| ≤ (1/κ_4) sqrt(7/2) for supersymmetric 4d instantons using three approaches in the string landscape.

de Sitter in String Theory vs. Gibbons & Hawking

hep-th · 2026-04-28 · conditional · novelty 5.0

Perturbative string theory forbids de Sitter times closed manifold solutions under the assumption that the Euclidean sphere partition function receives a nonzero 1/G_N contribution.

Dark bubbles, dark dimensions and fat gravitons

hep-th · 2026-06-18 · unverdicted · novelty 4.0

The dark bubble model realizes the dark dimension and fat graviton proposals by predicting a micron-sized extra dimension, gravity weakening at that scale, a tens-of-TeV string scale, and measurable positive spatial curvature.

citing papers explorer

Showing 12 of 12 citing papers.

  • $\text{AdS}_D\times I$ solutions in axio-dilaton gravity hep-th · 2026-06-03 · unverdicted · none · ref 22 · internal anchor

    The authors reformulate the equations of motion for AdS_D × I solutions in axio-dilaton gravity as a first-order autonomous dynamical system, identify fixed points and analytic solutions for arbitrary D including in type IIB, and discuss numerical flows in massive IIA.

  • AdS$_9$ solutions in type II supergravities hep-th · 2026-06-03 · unverdicted · none · ref 25 · internal anchor

    New analytic AdS9 solutions in type IIB with finite action and central charge, numerical massive IIA solutions with diverging action, and perturbative dS9 solutions are constructed in type II supergravities.

  • Axion-Scalar Dynamics: from the Distance Conjecture to Cosmic Acceleration hep-th · 2026-05-11 · unverdicted · none · ref 20 · internal anchor

    In type IIB/F-theory models, axion-scalar systems in finite distance limits produce trajectories of infinite length that drive asymptotic cosmic acceleration.

  • Bounding axion dark energy astro-ph.CO · 2026-04-10 · unverdicted · none · ref 22 · internal anchor

    An analytic bound on axion parameters in thawing quintessence is derived independently of initial conditions and used with cosmological observations plus quantum gravity constraints to exclude large regions of axion dark energy parameter space.

  • Late-Time Oscillating Quintessence in Light of DESI astro-ph.CO · 2026-06-23 · unverdicted · none · ref 25 · internal anchor

    A late-onset oscillating quintessence model improves the fit to DESI plus supernova and CMB data by Delta chi squared of about 9 over Lambda CDM, driven by background expansion.

  • An Interplay Between Fractional Calculus and Holographic Dark Energy gr-qc · 2026-06-21 · unverdicted · none · ref 43 · internal anchor

    Introduces Fractional Holographic Dark Energy (FHDE) via fractionally corrected entropy from a modified Wheeler-DeWitt equation and studies its late-time cosmology, field reconstructions, and extensions to modified gravity theories.

  • Moduli Stabilisation for ADD and the Dark Dimension Scenario hep-th · 2026-06-17 · unverdicted · none · ref 14 · internal anchor

    A perturbative stabilization mechanism in the Large Volume Scenario for K3-fibered Calabi-Yau threefolds generates exponentially large 2D base volumes while keeping the 4D fibre small, enabling ADD or Dark Dimension limits with possible dS or quintessence vacua.

  • Quintessential $\alpha$-attractors fit DESI hep-th · 2026-06-01 · unverdicted · none · ref 27 · internal anchor

    α-attractor quintessence models approximate axion-like potentials and fit DESI dynamical dark energy data, preferring α of order 1 via a simple fa-α relation.

  • Sharpening the Supersymmetric Axion Weak Gravity Conjecture hep-th · 2026-05-21 · unverdicted · none · ref 86 · internal anchor

    The paper verifies the bound fS/|n| ≤ (π/(2 κ_d)) sqrt((d-1)/(d-2)) for axion instantons and sharpens it to fS/|n| ≤ (1/κ_4) sqrt(7/2) for supersymmetric 4d instantons using three approaches in the string landscape.

  • de Sitter in String Theory vs. Gibbons & Hawking hep-th · 2026-04-28 · conditional · none · ref 23 · internal anchor

    Perturbative string theory forbids de Sitter times closed manifold solutions under the assumption that the Euclidean sphere partition function receives a nonzero 1/G_N contribution.

  • Dark bubbles, dark dimensions and fat gravitons hep-th · 2026-06-18 · unverdicted · none · ref 8 · internal anchor

    The dark bubble model realizes the dark dimension and fat graviton proposals by predicting a micron-sized extra dimension, gravity weakening at that scale, a tens-of-TeV string scale, and measurable positive spatial curvature.

  • Breaking Free from the Swampland of Impossible Universes through the DESI Portal astro-ph.CO · 2026-05-11 · unverdicted · none · ref 20 · 2 links · internal anchor

    A review of string-inspired dynamical dark energy models claiming compatibility with DESI's hints of evolving dark energy under swampland constraints.