Inflating Brane inside hyper-spherically symmetric defects

Static and inflating brane world models are considered in $4+n$-dimensions with a non zero bulk cosmological constant and with a hyper-spherically symmetric topological defect residing in the $n$ extra dimensions. Several vacuum solutions can be constructed explicitely when the bulk and inflating constants are non zero. We study how these solutions are deformed by the presence of a global monopole for generic values of $n$ and a local monopole for $n=3$. New types of solutions, regular and periodic in the radial variable relative to the extra dimensions, are constructed.Comment: 23 pages, 9 figures, results extended, references adde

New insights on the matter-gravity coupling paradigm

The coupling between matter and gravity in General Relativity is given by a proportionality relation between the stress tensor and the geometry. This is an oriented assumption driven by the fact that both the stress tensor and the Einstein tensor are divergenceless. However, General Relativity is in essence a nonlinear theory, so there is no obvious reason why the coupling to matter should be linear. On another hand, modified theories of gravity usually affect the vacuum dynamics, yet keep the coupling to matter linear. In this Letter we address the implications of consistent nonlinear gravity/matter coupling. The Eddington inspired Born-Infeld theory recently introduced by Banados and Ferreira provides an enlightening realization of such coupling modifications. We find that this theory coupled to a perfect fluid reduces to General Relativity coupled to a nonlinearly modified perfect fluid, leading to an ambiguity between modified coupling and modified equation of state. We discuss observational consequences of this degeneracy and argue that such a completion of General Relativity is viable from both an experimental and theoretical point of view through energy conditions, consistency, and singularity-avoidance perspectives. We use these results to discuss the impact of changing the coupling paradigm.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures, v2: revised version, v3: published versio

Non Uniform Black Strings and Critical Dimensions in AdSdAdS_d

We study the equations of black strings in spacetimes of arbitrary dimensions with a negative cosmological constant and construct numerically non uniform black strings solutions. Our results suggest the existence of a localised black hole in asymptotically locally $AdS$ spacetime. We also present evidences for a dependence of the critical dimension on the horizon radius.The critical dimension represents the dimension where the order of the phase transition between uniform and non uniform black string changes. Finally, we argue that both, the regular asymptotically locally $AdS$ solution and $AdS$ black string solutions with a very small horizon radius, present a negative tension. This turns out to be an unexpected feature of the solutions.Comment: 13 pages, 5 figure