arXiv subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Stephen C. Davis.
The bubble nucleation rate for a first order phase transition occurring on a brane world is calculated. Both the Coleman-de Luccia thin wall instanton and the Hawking-Moss instanton are considered. The results are compared with the corresponding nucleation rates for standard four-dimensional gravity.
Axionic cosmic string solutions are investigated in a superstring motivated model with a pseudo-anomalous U(1) gauge symmetry. The inclusion of a gauge field and spatially varying dilaton allow local defect solutions with finite energy per unit length to be found. Fermion zero modes (whose presence is implied by supersymmetry) are also analysed. The corresponding fermion currents suggest strong cosmological bounds on the model. It is shown that the unusual form of the axion strings weakens these bounds. Other cosmological constraints on the underlying theory are also discussed.
The effective four-dimensional, linearised gravity of a brane world model with one extra dimension and a single brane is analysed. The model includes higher order curvature terms (such as the Gauss-Bonnet term) and a conformally coupled scalar field. Large and small distance gravitational laws are derived. In contrast to the corresponding Einstein gravity models, it is possible to obtain solutions with localised gravity which are compatible with observations. Solutions with non-standard large distance Newtonian potentials are also described.
The effective four-dimensional, linearised gravity of a Randall-Sundrum-like brane world model is analysed. The model includes higher order curvature terms (such as the Gauss-Bonnet term) and a scalar field. The resulting brane worlds can have better agreement with observations than the equivalent Einstein gravity models.
The effective four-dimensional, linearised gravity for a brane world model with higher order curvature terms and a bulk scalar field is analysed. Large and small distance gravitational laws are derived. The model has a single brane embedded in a five-dimensional bulk spacetime, and the scalar field represents the dilaton or a moduli field. The quadratic, Gauss-Bonnet curvature term (and corresponding higher kinetic terms for the scalar) is also included in the bulk action. It is particularly natural to include such terms in a brane world model. Boundary terms and junction conditions for the higher order terms are given. The extra terms allow additional solutions of the field equations, which give better agreement with observational constraints. Brans-Dicke gravity is obtained on the brane. The scalar and tensor perturbations are affected differently by the higher gravity terms, and this provides a way for the scalar modes to be suppressed relative to the tensor ones. Another new (but less useful) feature is the appearance of instabilities for some parameter ranges.
We investigate maximally symmetric brane world solutions with a scalar field. Five-dimensional bulk gravity is described by a general lagrangian which yields field equations containing no higher than second order derivatives. This includes the Gauss-Bonnet combination for the graviton. Stability and gravitational properties of such solutions are considered, and we particularily emphasise the modifications induced by the higher order terms. In particular it is shown that higher curvature corrections to Einstein theory can give rise to instabilities in brane world solutions. A method for analytically obtaining the general solution for such actions is outlined. Genericaly, the requirement of a finite volume element together with the absence of a naked singularity in the bulk imposes fine-tuning of the brane tension. A model with a moduli scalar field is analysed in detail and we address questions of instability and non-singular self-tuning solutions. In particular, we discuss a case with a normalisable zero mode but infinite volume element.
In spacetimes of dimension greater than four it is natural to consider higher order (in R) corrections to the Einstein equations. In this letter generalized Israel junction conditions for a membrane in such a theory are derived. This is achieved by generalising the Gibbons-Hawking boundary term. The junction conditions are applied to simple brane world models, and are compared to the many contradictory results in the literature.
The effects of higher order gravity terms on a dilatonic brane world model are discussed. For a single positive tension flat 3-brane, and one infinite extra dimension, we present a particular class of solutions with finite 4-dimensional Planck scale and no naked singularities. A `self-tuning' mechanism for relaxing the cosmological constant on the brane, without a drastic fine tuning of parameters, is discussed in this context.
Cosmological brane world solutions are found for five-dimensional bulk spacetimes with a scalar field. A supergravity inspired method for obtaining static solutions is combined with a method for finding brane cosmologies with constant bulk energies. This provides a way to generate full (bulk and brane) cosmological solutions to brane worlds with bulk scalar fields. Examples of these solutions, and their cosmological evolution, are discussed.
Brane cosmologies with static, five-dimensional and Z_2 symmetric bulks are analysed. A general solution generating mechanism is outlined. The qualatitive cosmological behaviour of all such solutions is determined. Conditions for avoiding naked bulk singularities are also discussed. The restrictions placed on the solutions by the assumption of such a static bulk are investigated. In particular the requirement of a non-standard energy-momentum conservation law. The failure of such solutions to provide viable quintessence terms in the Friedmann equations is also discussed.
In brane world scenarios the Friedmann equation is modified, resulting in an increased expansion at early times. This has important effects on cosmological phase transitions which we investigate, elucidating significant differences to the standard case. First order phase transitions require a higher nucleation rate to complete; baryogenesis and particle abundances could be suppressed. Topological defect evolution is also affected, though the current defect densities are largely unchanged. In particular, the increased expansion does not solve the usual monopole and domain wall problems.
The Friedmann equation for a positive tension brane situated between two bulk spacetimes that posses the same 5D cosmological constant, but which does not posses a Z_2 symmetry of the metric itself is derived, and the possible effects of dropping the Z_2 symmetry on the expansion of our Universe are examined; cosmological constraints are discussed. The global solutions for the metric in the infinite extra dimension case are found and comparison with the symmetric case is made. We show that any brane world senario of this type must revert to a Z_2 symmetric form at late times, and hence rule out certain proposed scenarios.
I examine the existence of zero energy fermion solutions (zero modes) on cosmic strings in an SO(10) grand unified theory. The current carrying capability of a cosmic string formed at one phase transition can be modified at subsequent phase transitions. I show that the zero modes may be destroyed and the conductivity of the string altered. I discuss the cosmological implications of this, and show that it allows vorton bounds to be relaxed.
The gravitational properties of cosmic strings in the Randall-Sundrum brane world scenario are investigated. Using a gauge in which the brane remains straight, the leading order corrections to the metric on the brane are determined. In contrast to their non-brane equivalents, these strings have an attractive 1/r^2 potential and a radially dependent deficit angle. These two effects alter many cosmological properties of the string, such as the formation of double images. As a result of the attractive force the string will collect matter as it moves through space.
It is shown that it is possible for bound fermions on a cosmic string to form a superconducting state. Due to the attractive force between them, particles moving in opposite directions along the string form bound pairs. This involves a similar mechanism to superconductivity in metals at low temperatures. The method of Gorkov is used to analyse the system. In contrast to the situation in metals, the unusual properties of the string fermion spectrum allow a massless Abelian gauge field to provide the required attractive force. This results in far stronger superconductivity than usual. A massive gauge field can also be used, in which case the standard results apply.
Cosmic strings in realistic particle physics models have fermion zero modes in the string core. Such zero modes change the underlying cosmology; for example, the string can carry a current. We consider the stability of fermion zero modes to interactions with particles in the surrounding plasma. We also consider cosmological constraints on such theories, particulary those with a chiral fermion zero mode, such as arises in a class of supersymmetric models.
The stability of fermionic charge carriers on cosmic strings is considered. We show that neutral fermion currents in cosmic strings are always chiral or time-like, in contrast to the case of bosonic currents. The spectrum of bound states on an abelian SO(10) string is determined both before and after the electroweak phase transition. We determine the mass acquired by the zero mode at this transition. A range of charge carrier scattering processes are considered and corresponding decay rates calculated. Couplings between the carriers and the electroweak sector generate scattering from the plasma which can thermalise some currents. If the zero mode is isolated from the electroweak sector, then it survives. Current-current scattering is considered, but found to be unimportant in realistic settings where the string density is low.
We investigate the microphysics of cosmic strings in Nonabelian gauge theories with N=1 supersymmetry. We give the vortex solutions in a specific example and demonstrate that fermionic superconductivity arises because of the couplings and interactions dictated by supersymmetry. We then use supersymmetry transformations to obtain the relevant fermionic zero modes and investigate the role of soft supersymmetry breaking on the existence and properties of the superconducting strings.