Single versus multifield scalar potentials from string theory

Understand

In this work, we investigate the properties of string effective theories with scalar field(s) and a scalar potential.

• We first claim that in most examples known, such theories are multifield, with at least 2 non-compact field directions; the few counter-examples appear to be very specific and isolated.
• Such a systematic multifield situation has important implications for cosmology.
• Characterising properties of the scalar potential $V$ is also more delicate in a multifield setting.