Friedmann universe with dust and scalar field

We study a spatially flat Friedmann model containing a pressureless perfect fluid (dust) and a scalar field with an unbounded from below potential of the form V(\fii)=W_0 - V_0\sinh(\sqrt{3/2}\kappa\fii), where the parameters $W_0$ and $V_0$ are arbitrary and $\kappa=\sqrt{8\pi G_N}=M_p^{-1}$. The model is integrable and all exact solutions describe the recollapsing universe. The behavior of the model near both initial and final points of evolution is analyzed. The model is consistent with the observational parameters. We single out the exact solution with the present-day values of acceleration parameter $q_0=0.5$ and dark matter density parameter $\Omega_{\rho 0}=0.3$ describing the evolution within the time approximately equal to $2H_0^{-1}$.Comment: 11 pages, 10 figure

6D thick branes from interacting scalar fields

A thick brane in six dimensions is constructed using two scalar fields. The field equations for 6D gravity plus the scalar fields are solved numerically. This thick brane solution shares some features with a previously studied analytic solutions, but has the advantage that the energy-momentum tensor which forms the thick brane comes from the scalar fields rather than being put in by hand. Additionally the scalar fields which form the brane also provide a universal, non-gravitational trapping mechanism for test fields of various spins.Comment: final versio

Anti-de-Sitter Island-Universes from 5D Standing Waves

We construct simple standing wave solutions in a 5D space-time with a ghost scalar field. The nodes of these standing waves are 'islands' of 4D Minkowski space-time. For the 5D model with increasing (decreasing) warp factor there are a finite (infinite) number of nodes and thus Minkowski island-universes having different parameters, such as gravitational and cosmological constants. This feature is similar to the assumptions of the landscape models, which postulate a large number of universes with different parameters. This standing wave solution also provides a new localization mechanism - matter fields can reside only on Minkowski 'islands', where the background space-time does not oscillate.Comment: 14 page pre-print format. Discussion about connection to Weyl gravity added and "E&M" localization method added. To be published MPL

Gravitating global monopoles in extra dimensions and the brane world concept

Multidimensional configurations with Minkowski external space-time and a spherical global monopole in extra dimensions are discussed in the context of the brane world concept. The monopole is formed with a hedgehog-like set of scalar fields \phi^i with a symmetry-breaking potential V depending on the magnitude \phi^2 = \phi^i \phi^i. All possible kinds of globally regular configurations are singled out without specifying the shape of V(\phi). These variants are governed by the maximum value \phi_m of the scalar field, characterizing the energy scale of symmetry breaking. If \phi_m < \phi_cr (where \phi_cr is a critical value of \phi related to the multidimensional Planck scale), the monopole reaches infinite radii while in the ``strong field regime'', when \phi_m\geq \phi_cr, the monopole may end with a cylinder of finite radius or possess two regular centers. The warp factors of monopoles with both infinite and finite radii may either exponentially grow or tend to finite constant values far from the center. All such configurations are shown to be able to trap test scalar matter, in striking contrast to RS2 type 5D models. The monopole structures obtained analytically are also found numerically for the Mexican hat potential with an additional parameter acting as a cosmological constant.Comment: 21 pages, 6 figures, latex, gc styl

Brane world corrections to Newton's law

We discuss possible variations of the effective gravitational constant with length scale, predicted by most of alternative theories of gravity and unified models of physical interactions. After a brief general exposition, we review in more detail the predicted corrections to Newton's law of gravity in diverse brane world models. We consider various configurations in 5 dimensions (flat, de Sitter and AdS branes in Einstein and Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet theories, with and without induced gravity and possible incomplete graviton localization), 5D multi-brane systems and some models in higher dimensions. A common feature of all models considered is the existence of corrections to Newton's law at small radii comparable with the bulk characteristic length: at such radii, gravity on the brane becomes effectively multidimensional. Many models contain superlight perturbation modes, which modify gravity at large scale and may be important for astrophysics and cosmology.Comment: Brief review, 16 pages, 92 references. Some description and references adde