Brane Cosmological Constant Research Articles

Moduli dynamics in effective nested warped geometry in four dimensions and some cosmological implications

We analyze the effective four-dimensional dynamics of the extra-dimensional moduli fields in curved braneworlds having nested warping, with particular emphasis on the doubly warped model which is interesting in the light of current collider constraints on the mass of the Kaluza-Klein graviton. The presence of a non-zero brane cosmological constant (Ω) naturally induces an effective moduli potential in the four-dimensional action, which shows distinct features in dS (Ω > 0) and AdS (Ω < 0) branches. For the observationally interesting case of dS 4-branes, a metastable minimum in the potential arises along the first modulus, with no minima along the higher moduli. The underlying nested geometry also leads to interesting separable forms of the non-canonical kinetic terms in the Einstein frame, where the brane curvature directly impacts the kinetic properties of only the first modulus. The non-canonicity of the scenario has been illustrated via an explicit computation of the field space curvature. We subsequently explore the ability of curved multiply warped geometries to drive inflation with an in-built exit mechanism, by considering predominant slow roll along each modular direction on a case-by-case basis. We find slow roll on top of the metastable plateau along the first modular direction to be the most viable scenario, with the higher-dimensional moduli parametrically tuning the height of the potential without significant impact on the inflationary observables. On the other hand, while slow roll along the higher moduli can successfully inflate the background and eventually lead to an exit, consistency with observations seemingly requires unphysical hierarchies among the extra-dimensional radii, thus disfavouring such scenarios.

Observational constraints on the cosmology with holographic dark fluid

We consider the holographic Friedman–Robertson–Walker (hFRW) universe on the 4-dimensional membrane embedded in the 5-dimensional bulk spacetime and fit the parameters with the observational data. In order to fully account for the phenomenology of this scenario, we consider the models with the brane cosmological constant and the negative bulk cosmological constant. The contribution from the bulk is represented as the holographic dark fluid on the membrane. We derive the universal modified Friedmann equation by including all of these effects in both braneworld and holographic cutoff approaches. For three specific models, namely, the pure hFRW model, the one with the brane cosmological constant, and the one with the negative bulk cosmological constant, we compare the model predictions with the observations. The parameters in the considered hFRW models are constrained with observational data. In particular, it is shown that the model with the brane cosmological constant can fit data as well as the standard ΛCDM universe. We also find that the σ8 tension observed in different large-structure experiments can be effectively relaxed in this holographic scenario.

Bouncing cosmology in a curved braneworld

We explore the possibility of a non-singular bounce in our universe from a warped braneworld scenario with dynamical branes and a non-zero brane cosmological constant. Such models naturally incorporate a scalar sector known as the radion originating from the modulus of the theory. The presence of brane cosmological constant renders the branes to be non-flat and gives rise to a potential and a non-canonical kinetic term for the radion field in the four dimensional effective action. The kinetic term exhibits a phantom-like behavior within the domain of evolution of the modulus which leads to a violation of the null-energy condition often observed in a bouncing universe. The interplay of the radion potential and kinetic term enables the evolution of the radion field from a normal to a phantom regime where the universe transits from a contracting era to an expanding epoch through a non-singular bounce. Analysis of the scalar and tensor perturbations over such background evolution reveal that the primordial observables e.g., the amplitude of scalar perturbations \U0001d49cs, tensor to scalar ratio r and the scalar spectral index ns are in agreement with the current constraints reported by the Planck satellite. The implications are discussed.

Graviton Kaluza-Klein modes in nonflat branes with stabilized modulus

We consider a generalised two brane Randall Sundrum model where the branes are endowed with non-zero cosmological constant. In this scenario, we re-examine the modulus stabilisation mechanism and the nature of Kaluza Klein (KK) graviton modes. Our result reveals that while the KK mode graviton masses may change significantly with brane cosmological constant, the Goldberger-Wise stabilisation mechanism, which assumes negligible backreaction on the background metric, continues to hold even when the branes have large cosmological constant. The possibility of having a global minimum for the modulus is also discussed.

Radially stabilized inflating cosmic strings

In general relativity, local cosmic strings are well known to produce a static, locally flat spacetime with a wedge removed. If the tension exceeds a critical value, the deficit angle becomes larger than $2\ensuremath{\pi}$, leading to a compact exterior that ends in a conical singularity. In this paper, we investigate dynamical solutions for cosmic strings with super-critical tensions. To this end, we model the string as a cylindrical shell of finite and stabilized transverse width and show that there is a marginally super-critical regime in which the stabilization can be achieved by physically reasonable matter. We show numerically that the static deficit angle solution is unstable for super-critical string tensions. Instead, the geometry starts expanding in the axial direction at an asymptotically constant rate, and a horizon is formed in the exterior spacetime, which has the shape of a growing cigar. We are able to find the analytic form of the attractor solution describing the interior of the cosmic string. In particular, this enables us to analytically derive the relation between the string tension and the axial expansion rate. Furthermore, we show that the exterior conical singularity can be avoided for dynamical solutions. Our results might be relevant for theories with two extra dimensions, modeling our Universe as a cosmic string with a three-dimensional axis. We derive the corresponding Friedmann equation, relating the on-brane Hubble parameter to the string tension or, equivalently, brane cosmological constant.

Vacuum Expectation Value Profiles of the Bulk Scalar Field in the Generalized Randall-Sundrum Model

In the generalized Randall-Sundrum warped brane-world model the cosmological constant induced on the visible brane can be positive or negative. In this paper we investigate profiles of vacuum expectation value of the bulk scalar field under general Dirichlet and Neumann boundary conditions in the generalized warped brane-world model. We show that the VEV profiles generally depend on the value of the brane cosmological constant. We find that the VEV profiles of the bulk scalar field for a visible brane with negative cosmological constant and positive tension are quite distinct from those of Randall-Sundrum model. In addition we show that the VEV profiles for a visible brane with large positive cosmological constant are also different from those of the Randall-Sundrum model. We also verify that Goldberger and Wise mechanism can work under nonzero Dirichlet boundary conditions in the generalized Randall-Sundrum model.

Brane cosmological constant in two-brane warped geometry model

In the backdrop of generalized Randall–Sundrum braneworld scenario, we look for the possible origin of an effective four-dimensional cosmological constant (Ω vis ) on the visible three-brane due to the effects of bulk curvature and the modulus field that can either be a constant or a time-dependent quantity. In case of constant modulus field, the induced Ω vis leads to an exponentially expanding universe and the presence of vacuum energy densities on either of the three-branes as well as a nonvanishing bulk curvature [Formula: see text] are essential to generate an effective Ω vis . The Hubble constant turns out to be equal to the visible brane cosmological constant which agrees with the present result. In an alternative scenario, a time-dependent modulus field is found to be capable of decelerating the universe. The Hubble parameter, in this case is determined for a slowly time-varying modulus field.

Quasi-homologous spherically symmetric branes and their symmetry breaking

We revisit the dynamical system based approach of spherically symmetric vacuum braneworlds, pointing out and studying the existence of a transcritical bifurcation as the dark pressure parameter changes its sign, we analyze some consequences of not discard the brane cosmological constant. For instance, it is noteworthy that the existence of an isothermal state equation between the dark fluid parameters cannot be obtained via the requirement of a quasi-homologous symmetry of the vacuum.

Gauge and moduli hierarchy in a multiply warped braneworld scenario

Discovery of Higgs-like boson near the mass scale ∼126 Gev generates renewed interest to the gauge hierarchy problem in the standard model related to the stabilisation of the Higgs mass within Tev scale without any unnatural fine tuning. One of the successful attempts to resolve this problem has been the Randall–Sundrum warped geometry model. Subsequently this 5-dimensional model was extended to a doubly warped 6-dimensional (or higher) model which can offer a geometric explanation of the fermion mass hierarchy in the standard model of elementary particles (D. Choudhury and S. SenGupta, 2007 [1]). In an attempt to address the dark energy issue, we in this work extend such 6-dimensional warped braneworld model to include non-flat 3-branes at the orbifold fixed points such that a small but non-vanishing brane cosmological constant is induced in our observable brane. We show that the requirements of a Planck to Tev scale warping along with a vanishingly small but non-zero cosmological constant on the visible brane with non-hierarchical moduli, each with scale close to Planck length, lead to a scenario where the 3-branes can have energy scales either close to Tev or close to Planck scale. Such a scenario can address both the gauge hierarchy as well as fermion mass hierarchy problem in standard model without introducing hierarchical scales between the two moduli. Thus simultaneous resolutions to the gauge hierarchy problem, fermion mass hierarchy problem and non-hierarchical moduli problem are closely linked with the near flatness condition of our universe.

Antisymmetric tensor fields in a generalized Randall–Sundrum scenario

Bulk antisymmetric tensor fields of different ranks have been studied in the context of a generalized Randall–Sundrum model with a non-vanishing induced cosmological constant on the visible brane. It is shown that instead of the usual exponential suppression of the couplings of the zero modes of these bulk fields with the brane fermions in the original Randall–Sundrum model, here the couplings are proportional to the brane cosmological constant. Thus in an era of large cosmological constant these fields have significant role in physical phenomena because of their enhanced couplings with the visible brane fermions.

Brane induced gravity, its ghost and the cosmological constant problem

``Brane Induced Gravity'' is regarded as a promising framework for addressing the cosmological constant problem, but it also suffers from a ghost instability for parameter values that make it phenomenologically viable. We carry out a detailed analysis of codimension > 2 models employing gauge invariant variables in a flat background approximation. It is argued that using instead a curved background sourced by the brane would not resolve the ghost issue, unless a very specific condition is satisfied (if satisfiable at all). As for other properties of the model, from an explicit analysis of the 4-dimensional graviton propagator we extract a mass, a decay width and a momentum dependent modification of the gravitational coupling for the spin 2 mode. In the flat space approximation, the mass of the problematic spin 0 ghost is instrumental in filtering out a brane cosmological constant. The mass replaces a background curvature that would have had the same function. The optical theorem is used to demonstrate the suppression of graviton leakage into the uncompactified bulk. Then, we derive the 4-dimensional effective action for gravity and show that general covariance is spontaneously broken by the bulk-brane setup. This provides a natural realization of the gravitational Higgs mechanism. We also show that the addition of extrinsic curvature dependent terms has no bearing on linearized brane gravity.

Inflating baby-Skyrme branes in six dimensions

We consider a six-dimensional brane world model, where the brane is described by a localized solution to the baby-Skyrme model extending in the extra dimensions. The branes have a cosmological constant modeled by inflating four-dimensional slices, and we further consider a bulk cosmological constant. We construct solutions numerically and present evidence that the solutions cease to exist for large values of the brane cosmological constant in some particular case. Then we study the stability of the model by considering perturbation of the gravitational part (resp. baby Skyrmion) with fixed matter fields (resp. gravitational background). Our results indicate that the perturbation equations do not admit localized solutions for certain type of perturbation. The stability analysis can be alternatively seen as leading to a particle spectrum; we give mass estimations for the baby-Skyrme perturbation and for the graviton.

Gravitational constraints of dS branes in an AdS Einstein–Brans–Dicke bulk

We derive the full projected Einstein–Brans–Dicke gravitational equations associated with an n-dimensional brane embedded in an (n + 1)-dimensional bulk. Using general conditions, as the positivity of the Brans–Dicke parameter and the effective Newton gravitational constant as well, we can constrain the brane cosmological constant in terms of the brane tension, the Brans–Dicke scalar field and the trace of the stress tensor on the brane, in order to achieve a dS brane. Applying these constraints to a specific five-dimensional model, a lower bound for the scalar field on the brane is elicited without solving the full equations. It is shown under which conditions the effective brane cosmological constant can be ignored in the brane projected gravitational field equations, suggesting a different fine tuning between the brane tension and the bulk cosmological constant.

Bulk Higgs field in a Randall-Sundrum model with a nonvanishing brane cosmological constant

We consider the possibility of Higgs mechanism in the bulk in a generalised Randall-Sundrum model, where a nonvanishing cosmological constant is induced on the visible brane. This scenario has the advantage of accommodating positive tension of the visible brane and thus ensures stability of the model. It is shown that several problems usually associated with this mechanism are avoided if some dimensionful parameters in the bulk are allowed to lie a little below the Planck mass. The most important of these is keeping the lowest massive mode in the scale of the standard electroweak model, and at the same time reducing the gauge coupling of the next excited state, thus ameliorating otherwise stringent phenomenological constraints.

PHANTOM MIMICRY ON THE NORMAL BRANCH OF A DGP-INSPIRED BRANEWORLD SCENARIO WITH CURVATURE EFFECT

It has been shown recently that phantom-like effect can be realized on the normal branch of the DGP setup without introduction of any phantom matter in the bulk or on the brane and therefore without violation of the null energy condition. Inclusion of the Gauss–Bonnet term in the bulk action modifies this picture via curvature effects. Based on the Lue–Starkman conjecture on the dynamical screening of the brane cosmological constant in the DGP scenario, we extend this proposal to a general DGP-inspired f(R, ϕ) model that stringy effects in the ultraviolet sector of the theory are taken into account by inclusion of the Gauss–Bonnet term in the bulk action. We study cosmological dynamics of this setup, especially its phantom-like behavior and possible crossing of the phantom divide line. In this setup, scalar field and curvature quintessence are treated in a unified framework.

Kaluza–Klein modes of bulk fields in a generalized Randall–Sundrum scenario

We consider a generalised two brane Randall–Sundrum model with non-zero cosmological constant on the visible TeV brane. Massive Kaluza–Klein modes for various bulk fields namely graviton, gauge field and antisymmetric second rank Kalb–Ramond field in a such generalized Randall–Sundrum scenario are determined. The masses for the Kaluza–Klein excitations of different bulk fields are found to depend on the brane cosmological constant indicating interesting consequences in warped brane particle phenomenology.

Dynamical-screening and the phantom-like effects in aDGP-inspired F(R, ϕ) model

Based on the Lue-Starkman conjecture on the dynamical screening ofthe brane cosmological constant in the DGP scenario, we extend thisproposal to a general DGP-inspired F(R, ϕ) model. We show thatmodification of the induced gravity and its coupling to aquintessence field localized on the brane, affects the screening ofthe brane cosmological constant and also phantom-like behavior onthe brane. We extend our study to possible modification of theinduced gravity on the brane and for clarification some specificexamples are presented. As a result, phantom-like behavior can berealized in this setup without violating the null energy conditionat least in some subspaces of the model parameter space. The keyresult of our study is the fact that a DGP-inspired F(R, ϕ)scenario has the best fit with LCDM and recent observations thanother alternative theories.

A new source for a brane cosmological constant from a modified gravity model in the bulk

We show that a four-dimensional equation of state for a cosmological constant term arises from a perfect fluid in the bulk in the context of a gravity model where the scalar curvature is non-minimally coupled to the perfect fluid Lagrangian density. The four-dimensional theory is fully determined from the induced equations on the brane, subject to the boundary conditions derived across the brane.

Generalized Friedmann equations for a finite thick brane

We present the generalized Friedmann equations describing the cosmological evolution of a finite thick brane immeresed in a five-dimensional Schwarzschild Anti-de Sitter spacetime. A linear term in the density in addition to a quatratic one arises in the Friedmann equation, leading to the standard cosmological evolution at late times without introducing an ad hoc tension term for the brane. The effective four-dimensional cosmological constant is then uplifted similar to the KKLT effect and vanishes for a brane thickness equal to the AdS curvature size, up to the third order of the thickness. The four-dimensional gravitational constant is then equal to the five-dimensional one divided by the AdS curvature radius, similar to that derived by dimensional compactification. An accelerating brane cosmology may emerge at late times provided there is either a negative transverse pressure component in the brane energy-momentum tensor or the effective brane cosmological constant is positive.

MIRROR BRANES

The Randall–Sundrum two-brane model admits the flat-brane Lorentz-invariant vacuum solution only if the branes have exactly opposite tensions. We pay attention to this condition and propose a generalization of this model in which two branes are described by actions of the same form and with the same matter content but with opposite signs. In this way, the relation between their tensions (which are their vacuum energy densities) is naturally accounted for. We study a simple example of such a model in detail. It represents the Randall–Sundrum model supplemented by the Einstein scalar-curvature terms in the actions for the branes. We show that this model is tachyon-free for sufficiently large negative values of the brane cosmological constant, that gravitational forces on the branes are of opposite signs, and that physically most reasonable model of this type is the one where the five-dimensional gravity is localized around the visible brane. The massive gravitational modes in this model have ghost-like character, and we discuss the significance of this fact for the quantum instability of the vacuum on the visible brane.