508 research outputs found
Where in the String Landscape is Quintessence
We argue that quintessence may reside in certain corners of the string
landscape. It arises as a linear combination of internal space components of
higher rank forms, which are axion-like at low energies, and may mix with
4-forms after compactification of the Chern-Simons terms to 4D due to internal
space fluxes. The mixing induces an effective mass term, with an action which
{\it preserves} the axion shift symmetry, breaking it spontaneously after the
background selection. With several axions, several 4-forms, and a low string
scale, as in one of the setups already invoked for dynamically explaining a
tiny residual vacuum energy in string theory, the 4D mass matrix generated by
random fluxes may have ultralight eigenmodes over the landscape, which are
quintessence. We illustrate how this works in simplest cases, and outline how
to get the lightest mass to be comparable to the Hubble scale now, . The shift symmetry protects the smallest mass from
perturbative corrections in field theory. Further, if the ultralight eigenmode
does not couple directly to any sector strongly coupled at a high scale, the
non-perturbative field theory corrections to its potential will also be
suppressed. Finally, if the compactification length is larger than the string
length by more than an order of magnitude, the gravitational corrections may
remain small too, even when the field value approaches .Comment: 8 pages RevTeX; added references, matches published versio
Constraints on Embeddings
We show that the embedding of either a static or a time dependent maximally
3-symmetric brane with non-zero spatial curvature into a non-compactified
bulk does not yield exponential suppression of the geometry away from
the brane. Implications of this result for brane-localized gravity are
discussed.Comment: RevTeX, 9 pages (updated version v2, conclusions unchanged after
extension to the non-static case
Supersymmetric Gauge Theories with an Affine Quantum Moduli Space
All supersymmetric gauge theories based on simple groups which have an affine
quantum moduli space, i.e. one generated by gauge invariants with no relations,
W=0, and anomaly matching at the origin, are classified. It is shown that the
only theories with no gauge invariants (and moduli space equal to a single
point) are the two known examples, SU(5) with 5-bar + 10 and SO(10) with a
spinor. The index of the matter representation must be at least as big as the
index of the adjoint in theories which have a non-trivial relation among the
gauge invariants.Comment: Incorrect proof that theories with constraints must have mu >=
mu(adj) replaced by a correct one (6 pages, uses revtex, amssymb, array
Goldberger-Wise variations: stabilizing brane models with a bulk scalar
Braneworld scenarios with compact extra-dimensions need the volume of the
extra space to be stabilized. Goldberger and Wise have introduced a simple
mechanism, based on the presence of a bulk scalar field, able to stabilize the
radius of the Randall-Sundrum model. Here, we transpose the same mechanism to
generic single-brane and two-brane models, with one extra dimension and
arbitrary scalar potentials in the bulk and on the branes. The single-brane
construction turns out to be always unstable, independently of the bulk and
brane potentials. In the case of two branes, we derive some generic criteria
ensuring the stabilization or destabilization of the system.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figures. 1 figure and one subsection added. version
published on PR
RS1 Cosmology as Brane Dynamics in an AdS/Schwarzschild Bulk
We explore various facets of the cosmology of the Randall-Sundrum scenario
with two branes by considering the dynamics of the branes moving in a bulk
AdS/Schwarzschild geometry. This approach allows us both to understand in more
detail and from a different perspective the role of the stabilization of the
hierarchy in the brane cosmology, as well as to extend to the situation where
the metric contains a horizon. In particular, we explicitly determine how the
Goldberger-Wise stabilization mechanism perturbs the background bulk geometry
to produce a realistic cosmology.Comment: 9 pages, uses ReVTeX, no figure
Super-acceleration as Signature of Dark Sector Interaction
We show that an interaction between dark matter and dark energy generically
results in an effective dark energy equation of state of w<-1. This arises
because the interaction alters the redshift-dependence of the matter density.
An observer who fits the data treating the dark matter as non-interacting will
infer an effective dark energy fluid with w<-1. We argue that the model is
consistent with all current observations, the tightest constraint coming from
estimates of the matter density at different redshifts. Comparing the
luminosity and angular-diameter distance relations with LambdaCDM and phantom
models, we find that the three models are degenerate within current
uncertainties but likely distinguishable by the next generation of dark energy
experiments.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures. v2: Added reference
No-Go Theorem for Horizon-Shielded Self-Tuning Singularities
We derive a simple no-go theorem relating to self-tuning solutions to the
cosmological constant for observers on a brane, which rely on a singularity in
an extra dimension. The theorem shows that it is impossible to shield the
singularity from the brane by a horizon, unless the positive energy condition
(rho+p >= 0) is violated in the bulk or on the brane. The result holds
regardless of the kinds of fields which are introduced in the bulk or on the
brane, whether Z_2 symmetry is imposed at the brane, or whether higher
derivative terms of the Gauss-Bonnet form are added to the gravitational part
of the action. However, the no-go theorem can be evaded if the three-brane has
spatial curvature. We discuss explicit realizations of such solutions which
have both self-tuning and a horizon shielding the singularity.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, revtex; added reference and minor correction
Energy scales in a stabilized brane world
Brane world gravity looks different for observers on positive and negative
tension branes. First we consider the well-known RS1 model with two branes
embedded into the AdS_5 space-time and recall the results on the relations
between the energy scales for an observer on the negative tension brane, which
is supposed to be "our" brane. Then from the point of view of this observer we
study energy scales and masses for the radion and graviton excitations in a
stabilized brane world model. We argue that there may be several possibilities
leading to scales of the order 1-10 TeV or even less for new physics effects on
our brane. In particular, an interesting scenario can arise in the case of a
"symmetric" brane world with a nontrivial warp factor in the bulk, which
however takes equal values on both branes.Comment: 15 pages, corrected typos, enlarged conten
Strings at future singularities
We discuss the behaviour of strings propagating in spacetimes which allow
future singularities of either a sudden future or a Big-Rip type. We show that
in general the invariant string size remains finite at sudden future
singularities while it grows to infinity at a Big-Rip. This claim is based on
the discussion of both the tensile and null strings. In conclusion, strings may
survive a sudden future singularity, but not a Big-Rip where they are
infinitely stretched.Comment: REVTEX 4.0, 4 pages, no figures, references adde
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