arXiv subjects

Richard A. Brown

Publications and source records attributed to Richard A. Brown.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2007

Brane world cosmology with Gauss-Bonnet and induced gravity terms

In this thesis we investigate certain cosmological brane world models of the Randall-Sundrum type. The models are motivated by string theory but we focus on the phenomenology of the cosmology. Two models of specific interest are the Dvali-Gabadadze-Porrati (DGP, induced-gravity) model, where the brane action is modified, and the Gauss-Bonnet model where the bulk action is modified. Both of these modifications maybe motivated by string theory. We provide a brief review of Randall-Sundrum models and then consider the Kaluza-Klein modes on Minkowski and de Sitter branes, in both the two and one brane cases. The spectrum obtained for the de Sitter branes is a new result. We then consider a Friedmann-Robertson-Walker brane in order to investigate the cosmological dynamics on the brane. We present a brief discussion of the DGP and Gauss-Bonnet brane worlds. We then investigate the Gauss-Bonnet-Induced-Gravity (GBIG) model where the Gauss-Bonnet (GB) bulk term is combined with the induced-gravity (IG) brane term of the DGP model. We present a thorough investigation of cosmological dynamics, in particular focusing on GBIG models that behave like self-accelerating DGP models at late times but at early times show the remarkable feature of a finite-temperature Big Bang. We also discuss the constraints from observations, including ages and Big Bang nucleosynthesis.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2006

Brane Universes with Gauss-Bonnet-Induced-Gravity

The DGP brane world model allows us to get the observed late time acceleration via modified gravity, without the need for a ``dark energy'' field. This can then be generalised by the inclusion of high energy terms, in the form of a Gauss-Bonnet bulk. This is the basis of the Gauss-Bonnet-Induced-Gravity (GBIG) model explored here with both early and late time modifications to the cosmological evolution. Recently the simplest GBIG models (Minkowski bulk and no brane tension) have been analysed. Two of the three possible branches in these models start with a finite density ``Big-Bang'' and with late time acceleration. Here we present a comprehensive analysis of more general models where we include a bulk cosmological constant and brane tension. We show that by including these factors it is possible to have late time phantom behaviour.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2005

A late-accelerating universe with no dark energy - and a finite-temperature big bang

Brane-world models offer the possibility of explaining the late acceleration of the universe via infra-red modifications to General Relativity, rather than a dark energy field. However, one also expects ultra-violet modifications to General Relativity, when high-energy stringy effects in the early universe begin to grow. We generalize the DGP brane-world model via an ultra-violet modification, in the form of a Gauss-Bonnet term in the bulk action. The combination of infra-red and ultra-violet modifications produces an intriguing cosmology. The DGP feature of late-time acceleration without dark energy is preserved, but there is an entirely new feature - there is no hot big bang in the early universe. The universe starts with finite density and pressure, from a "sudden" curvature singularity.

gr-qc↗