Pure geometric thick f(R)f(R)-branes: stability and localization of gravity

We study two exactly solvable five-dimensional thick brane world models in pure metric $f(R)$ gravity. Working in the Einstein frame, we show that these solutions are stable against small linear perturbations, including the tensor, vector, and scalar modes. For both models, the corresponding gravitational zero mode is localized on the brane, which leads to the four-dimensional Newton's law; while the massive modes are nonlocalized and only contribute a small correction to the Newton's law at a large distance.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figures, improved version, accepted by Eur. Phys. J.

Linearization of thick K-branes

We study the linearization of a class of thick K-branes, namely, four-dimensional domain walls generated by a scalar field with particular nonstandard kinetic terms. The master equations for linear perturbations are derived from the point of view of both dynamical equations and quadratic action. The spectra of the canonical normal modes are studied using supersymmetric quantum mechanics. Our results indicate that the scalar perturbation is nonlocalizable in general. Conditions for stable $K$-branes are also found.Comment: 7 pages, no figures, published versio

KK-field kinks: stability, exact solutions and new features

We study a class of noncanonical real scalar field models in $(1+1)$-dimensional flat space-time. We first derive the general criterion for the classical linear stability of an arbitrary static soliton solution of these models. Then we construct first-order formalisms for some typical models and derive the corresponding kink solutions. The linear structures of these solutions are also qualitatively analyzed and compared with the canonical kink solutions.Comment: 14 pages, 3 figure

Linear perturbations in Eddington-inspired Born-Infeld gravity

We study the full linear perturbations of a homogeneous and isotropic spacetime in the Eddington-inspired Born-Infeld gravity. The stability of the perturbations are analyzed in the Eddington regime. We find that, for positive $\kappa$, the scalar modes are stable in the infinite wavelength limit ($k=0$) but unstable for $k\neq0$. The vector modes are stable and the tensor mode is unstable in the Eddington regime, independent of the wave vector $k$. However, these modes are unstable and hence cause the instabilities for negative $\kappa$.Comment: 11 pages, no figures, published versio

Tensor stability in Born-Infeld determinantal gravity

We consider the transverse-traceless tensor perturbation of a spatial flat homogeneous and isotropic spacetime in Born-Infeld determinantal gravity, and investigate the evolution of the tensor mode for two solutions in the early universe. For the first solution where the initial singularity is replaced by a regular geometric de Sitter inflation of infinite duration, the evolution of the tensor mode is stable for the parameter spaces $\alpha<-1$, $\omega\geq-1/3$ and $\alpha=-1$, $\omega>0$. For the second solution where the initial singularity is replaced by a primordial brusque bounce, which suffers a sudden singularity at the bouncing point, the evolution of the tensor mode is stable for all regions of the parameter space. Our calculation suggests that the tensor evolution can hold stability in large parameter spaces, which is a remarkable property of Born-Infeld determinantal gravity. We also constrain the theoretical parameter $|\lambda|\geq 10^{-38} \text{m}^{-2}$ by resorting to the current bound on the speed of the gravitational waves.Comment: 14 pages, added a general discussion on the tensor stability in Sec. 3, and added Sec. 5 on the parameter constraint, published versio