2,377 research outputs found
Multi-dimensional classical and quantum cosmology: Exact solutions, signature transition and stabilization
We study the classical and quantum cosmology of a -dimensional
spacetime minimally coupled to a scalar field and present exact solutions for
the resulting field equations for the case where the universe is spatially
flat. These solutions exhibit signature transition from a Euclidean to a
Lorentzian domain and lead to stabilization of the internal space, in contrast
to the solutions which do not undergo signature transition. The corresponding
quantum cosmology is described by the Wheeler-DeWitt equation which has exact
solutions in the mini-superspace, resulting in wavefunctions peaking around the
classical paths. Such solutions admit parametrizations corresponding to metric
solutions of the field equations that admit signature transition.Comment: 15 pages, two figures, to appear in JHE
Classical Stabilization of Homogeneous Extra Dimensions
If spacetime possesses extra dimensions of size and curvature radii much
larger than the Planck or string scales, the dynamics of these extra dimensions
should be governed by classical general relativity. We argue that in general
relativity, it is highly nontrivial to obtain solutions where the extra
dimensions are static and are dynamically stable to small perturbations. We
also illustrate that intuition on equilibrium and stability built up from
non-gravitational physics can be highly misleading. For all static, homogeneous
solutions satisfying the null energy condition, we show that the Ricci
curvature of space must be nonnegative in all directions. Much of our analysis
focuses on a class of spacetime models where space consists of a product of
homogeneous and isotropic geometries. A dimensional reduction of these models
is performed, and their stability to perturbations that preserve the spatial
symmetries is analyzed. We conclude that the only physically realistic examples
of classically stabilized large extra dimensions are those in which the
extra-dimensional manifold is positively curved.Comment: 25 pages; minor changes, improved reference
Conservation equation on braneworlds in six dimensions
We study braneworlds in six-dimensional Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet gravity. The
Gauss-Bonnet term is crucial for the equations to be well-posed in six
dimensions when non-trivial matter on the brane is included (the also involved
induced gravity term is not significant for their structure), and the matching
conditions of the braneworld are known. We show that the energy-momentum of the
brane is always conserved, independently of any regular bulk energy-momentum
tensor, contrary to the situation of the five-dimensional case.Comment: References added, minor changes, 3 pages, RevTeX, to app. in Class.
Quant. Gra
Moduli Stabilization in Brane Gas Cosmology with Superpotentials
In the context of brane gas cosmology in superstring theory, we show why it
is impossible to simultaneously stabilize the dilaton and the radion with a
general gas of strings (including massless modes) and D-branes. Although this
requires invoking a different mechanism to stabilize these moduli fields, we
find that the brane gas can still play a crucial role in the early universe in
assisting moduli stabilization. We show that a modest energy density of
specific types of brane gas can solve the overshoot problem that typically
afflicts potentials arising from gaugino condensation.Comment: minor changes to match the journal versio
Development of Superconducting Transition Edge Sensors Based on Electron-Phonon Decoupling
We have successfully fabricated a superconducting transition edge sensor (TES), bolometer that centers on the use of electron-phonon decoupling (EPD) for thermal isolation. We have selected a design approach that separates the two functions of far-infrared and THz radiative power absorption and temperature measurement, allowing separate optimization of the performance of each element. We have integrated molybdenum/gold (Mo/Au) bilayer TES and ion assisted thermally evaporated (IAE) bismuth (Bi) films as radiation absorber coupled to a low-loss microstripline from niobium (Nb) ground plane to a twin-slot antenna structure. The thermal conductance (G) and the time constant for the different geometry device have been measured. For one such device, the measured G is 1.16 x 10(exp -10) W/K (plus or minus 0.61 x 10(exp- 10) W/K) at 60 mK, which corresponds to noise equivalent power (NEP) = 1.65 X 10(exp -18)W/vHz and time constant of approximately 5 microseconds
Volume Stabilization and Acceleration in Brane Gas Cosmology
We investigate toy cosmological models in (1+m+p)-dimensions with gas of
p-branes wrapping over p-compact dimensions. In addition to winding modes, we
consider the effects of momentum modes corresponding to small vibrations of
branes and find that the extra dimensions are dynamically stabilized while the
others expand. Adding matter, the compact volume may grow slowly depending on
the equation of state. We also obtain solutions with winding and momentum modes
where the observed space undergoes accelerated expansion.Comment: 20 pages, 3 figures, v2: comments and references added, to appear in
JCA
Ultrasensitive Superconducting Transition Edge Sensors Based On Electron-Phonon Decoupling
We have successfully fabricated the superconducting transition edge sensor (TES), bolometer technology that centers on the use of electron-phonon decoupling (EPD) to thermally isolate the bolometer. Along with material characterization for large format antenna coupled bolometer arrays, we present the initial test results of bolometer based on EPD designed for THz detection. We have selected a design approach that separates the two functions of photon absorption and temperature measurement, allowing separate optimization of the performance of each element. We have integrated Molybdenum/Gold (Mo/Au) bilayer TES and ion assisted thermally evaporated (IAE) Bismuth (Bi) films as radiation absorber coupled to a low-loss microstripline from Niobium (Nb) ground plane to a twin-slot antenna structure. The thermal conductance and the time constant of these devices have been measured, and are consistent with our calculations. The device exhibits a single time constant at 0.1 K of approx.160 IlS, which is compatible with readout by a high-bandwidth single SQUID or a time domain SQUID multiplexer. The effects of thermal conductance and electrothermal feedback are major determinants of the time constant, but the electronic heat capacity also plays a major role. The NEP achieved in the device described above is 2.5x10(exp -17)W(gamma)Hz. Our plan is to demonstrate a reduction of the volume in the superconducting element to 5 microns x 5 microns in films of half the thickness at Tc = 60mK. By calculation, this new geometry corresponds to an NEP reduction of two orders of magnitude to 2.5x10(exp -19)W/(gamma)Hz, with a time constant of ~130/ls
Anisotropic Inflation and the Origin of Four Large Dimensions
In the context of (4+d)-dimensional general relativity, we propose an
inflationary scenario wherein 3 spatial dimensions grow large, while d extra
dimensions remain small. Our model requires that a self-interacting d-form
acquire a vacuum expectation value along the extra dimensions. This causes 3
spatial dimensions to inflate, whilst keeping the size of the extra dimensions
nearly constant. We do not require an additional stabilization mechanism for
the radion, as stable solutions exist for flat, and for negatively curved
compact extra dimensions. From a four-dimensional perspective, the radion does
not couple to the inflaton; and, the small amplitude of the CMB temperature
anisotropies arises from an exponential suppression of fluctuations, due to the
higher-dimensional origin of the inflaton. The mechanism triggering the end of
inflation is responsible, both, for heating the universe, and for avoiding
violations of the equivalence principle due to coupling between the radion and
matter.Comment: 24 pages, 2 figures; uses RevTeX4. v2: Minor changes and added
references. v3: Improved discussion of slow-rol
Flux Compactifications: Stability and Implications for Cosmology
We study the dynamics of the size of an extra-dimensional manifold stabilised
by fluxes. Inspecting the potential for the 4D field associated with this size
(the radion), we obtain the conditions under which it can be stabilised and
show that stable compactifications on hyperbolic manifolds necessarily have a
negative four-dimensional cosmological constant, in contradiction with
experimental observations. Assuming compactification on a positively curved
(spherical) manifold we find that the radion has a mass of the order of the
compactification scale, M_c, and Planck suppressed couplings. We also show that
the model becomes unstable and the extra dimensions decompactify when the
four-dimensional curvature is higher than a maximum value. This in particular
sets an upper bound on the scale of inflation in these models: V_max \sim M_c^2
M_P^2, independently of whether the radion or other field is responsible for
inflation. We comment on other possible contributions to the radion potential
as well as finite temperature effects and their impact on the bounds obtained.Comment: 16 pages, 1 figure, LaTeX; v2: typos fixed and references adde
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