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Alfredo Herrera-Aguilar

Publications and source records attributed to Alfredo Herrera-Aguilar.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
arXiv2014

On localization of universal scalar fields in a tachyonic de Sitter thick braneworld

Braneworld models may yield interesting effects ranging from high-energy physics to cosmology, or even some low-energy physics. Their mode structure modifies standard results in these physical realms that can be tested and used to set bounds on the models parameters. Now, to define braneworld deviations from standard 4D physics, a notion of matter and gravity localization on the brane is crucial. In this work we investigate the localization of universal massive scalar fields in a de Sitter thick tachyonic braneworld generated by gravity coupled to a tachyonic bulk scalar field. This braneworld possesses a 4D de Sitter induced metric and is asymptotically flat despite the presence of a negative bulk cosmological constant, a novel and interesting peculiarity that contrasts with previously known models. Universal scalar fields can be localized in this expanding braneworld if their bulk mass obeys an upper bound, otherwise they delocalize: The dynamics of the scalar field is governed by a Schroedinger equation with an analog quantum mechanical potential of modified Poeschl-Teller type that depends on the bulk curvature of the braneworld system and the value of the bulk scalar field mass. For masses satisfying a certain upper bound, the potential displays a negative minimum and possesses a single massless bound state separated from the Kaluza-Klein (KK) massive modes by a mass gap defined by the Hubble (expansion scale) parameter of the 3-brane. As the bulk scalar field mass increases, the minimum of the quantum mechanical potential approaches a null value and, eventually, it becomes positive, transforming into a potential barrier and leading to delocalization of the bulk scalar field from the brane. The general solution of the Schroedinger equation is given in terms of general Heun functions, giving rise to a new application of these special functions.

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arXiv2014

On gravity localization in scalar braneworlds with a super-exponential warp factor

We show that within tachyonic braneworld models,"super-exponential" warp factors of the form $e^{-2f} \sim e^{-2c_1e^{c_2 |σ|}}$ are problematic when dealing with both the finiteness of the effective four-dimensional (4d) Planck mass and the localization of 4d gravity, which can be stated by the requirement that $\int e^{-2f(σ)}dσ< \infty$, because this condition necessarily implies that c_1 and c_2 should be positive. As a consequence of this fact the tachyonic field $T$ turns out to be complex in contradiction with the real nature of the starting action for the tachyonic braneworld. Conversely if one requires to have a real tachyon field, 4d gravity will not be localized and the effective gravitational coupling will be infinite. We present several typical examples where this problem occurs: we have analysed this situation for thin as well as thick tachyonic braneworlds with 4d Poincare symmetry, for the case when a bulk cosmological constant is present, and even for a brane with an induced spatially flat 4d cosmological background, and shown that in all cases the tachyon field T comes out to be inconsistently complex when imposing localization of 4d gravity. On the other hand, when dealing with a further reduction of the hierarchy problem one should carefully consider the sign of the constants c_1 and c_2 to avoid inconsistencies in the tachyonic braneworld model. We also present a similar discusion involving a canonical scalar field in the bulk where none of these problems arise and hence, the mass hierarchy and 4d gravity localization problems can be successfully addressed at once. Finally, the stability analysis of this scalar tensor braneworld model with a super-exponential warp factor is performed.

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arXiv2014

Mass hierarchy, mass gap and corrections to Newton's law on thick branes with Poincare symmetry

We consider a scalar thick brane configuration arising in a 5D theory of gravity coupled to a self-interacting scalar field in a Riemannian manifold. We start from known classical solutions of the corresponding field equations and elaborate on the physics of the transverse traceless modes of linear fluctuations of the classical background, which obey a Schroedinger-like equation. We further consider two special cases in which this equation can be solved analytically for any massive mode with m^2>0, in contrast with numerical approaches, allowing us to study in closed form the massive spectrum of Kaluza-Klein (KK) excitations and to compute the corrections to Newton's law in the thin brane limit. In the first case we consider a solution with a mass gap in the spectrum of KK fluctuations with two bound states - the massless 4D graviton free of tachyonic instabilities and a massive KK excitation - as well as a tower of continuous massive KK modes which obey a Legendre equation. The mass gap is defined by the inverse of the brane thickness, allowing us to get rid of the potentially dangerous multiplicity of arbitrarily light KK modes. It is shown that due to this lucky circumstance, the solution of the mass hierarchy problem is much simpler and transparent than in the (thin) Randall-Sundrum (RS) two-brane configuration. In the second case we present a smooth version of the RS model with a single massless bound state, which accounts for the 4D graviton, and a sector of continuous fluctuation modes with no mass gap, which obey a confluent Heun equation in the Ince limit. (The latter seems to have physical applications for the first time within braneworld models). For this solution the mass hierarchy problem is solved as in the Lykken-Randall model and the model is completely free of naked singularities.

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arXiv2014

Study of field fluctuations and their localization in a thick braneworld generated by gravity non-minimally coupled to a scalar field with the Gauss-Bonnet term

In this work we study a scenario with a warped 5D smooth braneworld with 4D Minkowski geometry builded from bulk scalar matter non-minimally coupled to gravity with an additional Gauss-Bonnet term. We present exact solutions for the full braneworld configuration in contrast to previous results where only approximate solutions were constructed due to the highly non-linear character of the relevant differential equations. These solutions allow us to study the necessary conditions for the finiteness of the 4D Planck mass and additionally, enables us to perform a more rigorous analysis of 4D gravity localization compared to approximate approaches. It is remarkable that all the constructed braneworld configurations lead to standard 4D gravity localization since they contain a localized massless tensor mode (the graviton). We also analyze the localization properties of scalar, vector and tensor fluctuation modes for the constructed field configurations. We show that for the considered backgrounds, only the massless tensor mode, i.e. the 4D graviton, is localized on the brane, while the vector and scalar modes are not confined to the brane.

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arXiv2014

Localization of gauge fields in a tachyonic de Sitter thick braneworld

In this work we show that universal gauge vector fields can be localized on the recently proposed 5D thick tachyonic braneworld which involves a de Sitter cosmological background induced on the 3-brane. Namely, by performing a suitable decomposition of the vector field, the resulting 4D effective action corresponds to a massive gauge field, while the profile along the extra dimension obeys a Schroedinger-like equation with a Poeschl-Teller potential. It turns out that the massless zero mode of the gauge field is bound to the expanding 3-brane and allows us to recover the standard 4D electromagnetic phenomena of our world. Moreover, this zero mode is separated from the continuum of Kaluza-Klein (KK) modes by a mass gap determined by the scale of the expansion parameter. We also were able to analytically solve the corresponding Schroedinger-like equation for arbitrary mass, showing that KK massive modes asymptotically behave like plane waves as expected.

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arXiv2013

A de Sitter tachyon thick braneworld

Among the multiple 5D thick braneworld models that have been proposed in the last years, in order to address several open problems in modern physics, there is a specific one involving a tachyonic bulk scalar field. Delving into this framework, a thick braneworld with a cosmological background induced on the brane is here investigated. The respective field equations --- derived from the model with a warped 5D geometry --- are highly non-linear equations, admitting a non-trivial solution for the warp factor and the tachyon scalar field as well, in a de Sitter 4D cosmological background. Moreover, the non-linear tachyonic scalar field, that generates the brane in complicity with warped gravity, has the form of a kink-like configuration. Notwithstanding, the non-linear field equations restricting character does not allow one to easily find thick brane solutions with a decaying warp factor which leads to the localization of 4D gravity and other matter fields. We derive such a thick brane configuration altogether in this tachyon-gravity setup. When analyzing the spectrum of gravity fluctuations in the transverse traceless sector, the 4D gravity is shown to be localized due to the presence of a {\it single} zero mode bound state, separated by a continuum of massive Kaluza-Klein (KK) modes by a mass gap. It contrasts with previous results, where there is a KK massive bound excitation providing no clear physical interpretation. The mass gap is determined by the scale of the metric parameter $H$. Finally, the corrections to Newton's law in this model are computed and shown to decay exponentially. It is in full compliance to corrections reported in previous results (up to a constant factor) within similar braneworlds with induced 4D de Sitter metric, despite the fact that the warp factor and the massive modes have a different form.

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arXiv2013

On the galactic rotation curves problem within an axisymmetric approach

In U. Nucamendi et al. Phys. Rev. D63 (2001) 125016 and K. Lake, Phys. Rev. Lett. 92 (2004) 051101 it has been shown that galactic potentials can be kinematically linked to the observed red/blue shifts of the corresponding galactic rotation curves under a minimal set of assumptions: the emitted photons come from stable timelike circular geodesic orbits of stars in a static spherically symmetric gravitational field, and propagate to us along null geodesics. It is remarkable that this relation can be established without appealing at all to a concrete theory of gravitational interaction. Here we generalize this kinematical spherically symmetric approach to the galactic rotation curves problem to the stationary axisymmetric realm since this is precisely the symmetry that spiral galaxies possess. Thus, by making use of the most general stationary axisymmetric metric, we also consider stable circular orbits of stars that emit signals which travel to a distant observer along null geodesics and express the galactic red/blue shifts in terms of three arbitrary metric functions, clarifying the contribution of the rotation as well as the dragging of the gravitational field. This stationary axisymmetric approach distinguishes between red and blue shifts emitted by circularly orbiting receding and approaching stars, respectively, even when they are considered with respect to the center of a spiral galaxy, indicating the need of precise measurements in order to confront predictions with observations. We also point out the difficulties one encounters in the attempt of determining the metric functions from observations and list some possible strategies to overcome them.

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arXiv2013

Thick Brane Isotropization in a Generalized 5D Anisotropic Standing Wave Braneworld Model

We study a smooth cosmological solution within a generalized 5D standing wave braneworld modeled by gravity and a phantom scalar field. In this model the 3-brane is anisotropically warped along its spatial dimensions and contains a novel time-dependent scale factor that multiplies the anisotropic spatial interval of the 5D metric, a fact that allows us to study cosmological effects. By explicitly solving the bulk field equations we found a natural mechanism which isotropizes the braneworld for a wide class of natural initial conditions. We are able to give a physical interpretation of the anisotropic dissipation: as the anisotropic energy of the 3-brane rapidly leaks into the bulk through the nontrivial components of the projected to the brane non-local Weyl tensor, the bulk becomes less isotropic. At the same time, under the action of the 4D cosmological constant, the anisotropic braneworld super-exponentially isotropizes by itself, rendering a 3-brane with de Sitter symmetry embedded in a 5D de Sitter space-time, while the phantom scalar field exponentially vanishes.

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arXiv2013

Localization of bulk matter fields, the hierarchy problem and corrections to Coulomb's law on a pure de Sitter thick braneworld

In this paper we investigate the localization and mass spectra of matter fields with spin 0, 1 and 1/2 on a geometric thick brane generated by pure 4D and 5D positive cosmological constants without bulk scalar fields. This model possesses a 4D cosmological constant that can be made as small as one desires without fine-tuning it with the bulk cosmological constant. The RS model is obtained as an analytic continuation of the flat brane limit of this braneworld configuration when the Hubble parameter disappears. Within this inflating braneworld model it is possible to formulate a mechanism for obtaining TeV mass scales from Planck ones by adding a positive thin brane, where the Standard Model fields are trapped, at a distance y_2 from the origin, where the Planck thick brane resides. The brane separation must be of the same order than the inverse thickness parameter of the model in order for the mechanism to generate the desired hierarchy. This result is obtained by imposing the recovery of both the correct 4D gravitational couplings and the actually observed accelerated expansion of the universe in our de Sitter braneworld. Regarding the localization of matter in the purely geometric thick braneworld, for spin 0 massless and massive scalar fields as well as for spin 1 vector fields, the potentials of the Kaluza--Klein (KK) modes in thecorresponding Schroedinger equations are modified Poeschl-Teller potentials, which lead to the localization of the scalar and vector zero modes on the brane as well as to mass gaps in the mass spectra. We also compute the corrections to Coulomb's law coming from massive KK vector modes. For spin 1/2 fermions, we introduce the bulk mass term MF(z)\barΨΨin the action and show that localization of the massless left-chiral fermion zero mode is feasible for two mass functions MF(z) with a finite/infinite number of massive KK bound states.

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arXiv2012

Anisotropic Inflation in a 5D Standing Wave Braneworld and Dimensional Reduction

We investigate a cosmological solution within the framework of a 5D standing wave braneworld model generated by gravity coupled to a massless scalar phantom-like field. By obtaining a full exact solution of the model we found a novel dynamical mechanism in which the anisotropic nature of the primordial metric gives rise to i) inflation along certain spatial dimensions, and ii) deflation and a shrinking reduction of the number of spatial dimensions along other directions. This dynamical mechanism can be relevant for dimensional reduction in string and other higher dimensional theories in the attempt of getting a 4D isotropic expanding space-time.

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arXiv2012

Thick braneworlds generated by a non-minimally coupled scalar field and a Gauss-Bonnet term: conditions for localization of gravity

We consider warped five-dimensional thick braneworlds with four-dimensional Poincaré invariance originated from bulk scalar matter non-minimally coupled to gravity plus a Gauss-Bonnet term. The background field equations as well as the perturbed equations are investigated. A relationship between 4D and 5D Planck masses is studied in general terms. By imposing finiteness of the 4D Planck mass and regularity of the geometry, the localization properties of the tensor modes of the perturbed geometry are analyzed to first order, for a wide class of solutions. In order to explore the gravity localization properties for this model, the normalizability condition for the lowest level of the tensor fluctuations is analyzed. It is found that for the examined class of solutions, gravity in 4 dimensions is recovered if the curvature invariants are regular and the 4D Planck mass is finite. It turns out that both the addition of the Gauss-Bonnet term and the non-minimal coupling between the scalar field and gravity {\it reduce} the value of the 4D Planck mass compared to its value when the scalar field and gravity are minimally coupled and the Gauss-Bonnet term is absent. The above discussed analysis depends on the explicit form of the scalar field (through its non-minimal coupling to gravity), making necessary the construction of explicit solutions in order to get results in closed form, and is illustrated with some examples which constitute smooth generalizations of the so-called Randall-Sundrum braneworld model. These solutions were obtained by making use of a detailed {\it singular perturbation theory} procedure with respect to the non-minimal coupling parameter between the scalar field and gravity, a difficult task that we managed to perform in such a way that all the physically meaningful conditions for the localization of gravity are fully satisfied. From the obtained...

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arXiv2011

An anisotropic standing wave braneworld and associated Sturm-Liouville problem

We present a consistent derivation of the recently proposed 5D anisotropic standing wave braneworld generated by gravity coupled to a phantom-like scalar field. We explicitly solve the corresponding junction conditions, a fact that enables us to give a physical interpretation to the anisotropic energy-momentum tensor components on the brane. So matter on the brane represents an oscillating fluid which emits anisotropic waves into the bulk. We also analyze the Sturm-Liouville problem associated to the correct localization condition of the transverse to the brane metric and scalar fields. It is shown that this condition restricts the physically meaningful space of solutions for the localization of the fluctuations of the model.

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arXiv2011

Nonlinear hidden symmetries in General Relativity and String Theory: a matrix generalization of the Ernst potentials

In this paper we recall a simple formulation of the stationary electrovacuum theory in terms of the famous complex Ernst potentials, a pair of functions which allows one to generate new exact solutions from known ones by means of the so-called nonlinear hidden symmetries of Lie-Backlund type. This formalism turned out to be very useful to perform a complete classification of all 4D solutions which present two spacetime symmetries or possess two Killing vectors. Curiously enough, the Ernst formalism can be extended and applied to stationary General Relativity as well as the effective heterotic string theory reduced down to three spatial dimensions by means of a (real) matrix generalization of the Ernst potentials. Thus, in this theory one can also make use of nonlinear matrix hidden symmetries in order to generate new exact solutions from seed ones. Due to the explicit independence of the matrix Ernst potential formalism of the original theory (prior to dimensional reduction) on the dimension D, in the case when the theory initially has D>=5, one can generate new solutions like charged black holes, black rings and black Saturns, among others, starting from uncharged field configurations.

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arXiv2010

Localization of gravity on a de Sitter thick braneworld without scalar fields

In this work we present a simple thick braneworld model that is generated by an intriguing interplay between a 5D cosmological constant with a de Sitter metric induced in the 3-brane without the inclusion of scalar fields. We show that 4D gravity is localized on this brane, provide analytic expressions for the massive Kaluza-Klein (KK) fluctuation modes and also show that the spectrum of metric excitations displays a mass gap. We finally present the corrections to Newton's law due to these massive modes. This model has no naked singularities along the fifth dimension despite the existence of a mass gap in the graviton spectrum as it happens in thick branes with 4D Poincare symmetry, providing a simple model with very good features: the curvature is completely smooth along the fifth dimension, it localizes 4D gravity and the spectrum of gravity fluctuations presents a mass gap, a fact that rules out the existence of phenomenologically dangerous ultralight KK excitations in the model. We finally present our solution as a limit of scalar thick branes.

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arXiv2009

Solitons via Lie-Bäcklund Transformation for 5D Low-energy String Theory

We apply a non-linear matrix transformation of Lie-Backlund type on a seed soliton configuration in order to obtain a new solitonic solution in the framework of the 5D low-energy effective field theory of the bosonic string. The seed solution represents a stationary axisymmetric two-soliton configuration previously constructed through the inverse scattering method and consists of a massless gravitational field coupled to a non-trivial chargeless dilaton and to an axion field endowed with charge. We apply a fully parameterized non-linear matrix transformation of Ehlers type on this massless solution and get a massive rotating axisymmetric gravitational soliton coupled to charged axion and dilaton fields. We discuss on some physical properties of both the initial and the generated solitons and fully clarify the physical effect of the non-linear normalized Ehlers transformation on the seed solution, in particular, the generated field configuration acquires mass and charge terms, and does not possess some of the bizarre properties that the initial ISM solitonic solution does.

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arXiv2008

Localizing gravity on thick branes: a solution for massive KK modes of the Schroedinger equation

We generate scalar thick brane configurations in a 5D Riemannian space time which describes gravity coupled to a self-interacting scalar field. We also show that 4D gravity can be localized on a thick brane which does not necessarily respect Z_2-symmetry, generalizing several previous models based on the Randall-Sundrum system and avoiding the restriction to orbifold geometries as well as the introduction of the branes in the action by hand. We begin by obtaining a smooth brane configuration that preserves 4D Poincar'e invariance and violates reflection symmetry along the fifth dimension. The extra dimension can have either compact or extended topology, depending on the values of the parameters of the solution. In the non-compact case, our field configuration represents a thick brane with positive energy density centered at y=c_2, whereas in the compact case we get pairs of thick branes. We recast as well the wave equations of the transverse traceless modes of the linear fluctuations of the classical solution into a Schroedinger's equation form with a volcano potential of finite bottom. We solve Schroedinger equation for the massless zero mode m^2=0 and obtain a single bound wave function which represents a stable 4D graviton and is free of tachyonic modes with m^2<0. We also get a continuum spectrum of Kaluza-Klein (KK) states with m^2>0 that are suppressed at y=c_2 and turn asymptotically into plane waves. We found a particular case in which the Schroedinger equation can be solved for all m^2>0, giving us the opportunity of studying analytically the massive modes of the spectrum of KK excitations, a rare fact when considering thick brane configurations.

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arXiv2007

Localization of 4D gravity on pure geometrical Thick branes

We consider the generation of thick brane configurations in a pure geometric Weyl integrable 5D space time which constitutes a non-Riemannian generalization of Kaluza-Klein (KK) theory. In this framework, we show how 4D gravity can be localized on a scalar thick brane which does not necessarily respect reflection symmetry, generalizing in this way several previous models based on the Randall-Sundrum (RS) system and avoiding both, the restriction to orbifold geometries and the introduction of the branes in the action by hand. We first obtain a thick brane solution that preserves 4D Poincar'e invariance and breaks Z_2-symmetry along the extra dimension which, indeed, can be either compact or extended, and supplements brane solutions previously found by other authors. In the non-compact case, this field configuration represents a thick brane with positive energy density centered at y=c_2, whereas pairs of thick branes arise in the compact case. Remarkably, the Weylian scalar curvature is non-singular along the fifth dimension in the non-compact case, in contraposition to the RS thin brane system. We also recast the wave equations of the transverse traceless modes of the linear fluctuations of the classical background into a Schr"odinger's equation form with a volcano potential of finite bottom in both the compact and the extended cases. We solve Schr"odinger equation for the massless zero mode m^2=0 and obtain a single bound wave function which represents a stable 4D graviton. We also get a continuum gapless spectrum of KK states with m^2>0 that are suppressed at y=c_2 and turn asymptotically into plane waves.

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