We investigate the cosmological properties of an "induced gravity" brane scenario in the absence of mirror symmetry with respect to the brane. We find that brane evolution can proceed along one of four distinct branches. By contrast, when mirror symmetry is imposed, only two branches exist, one of which represents the self-accelerating brane, while the other is the so-called normal branch. This model incorporates many of the well-known possibilities of brane cosmology including phantom acceleration (w < -1), self-acceleration, transient acceleration, quiescent singularities, and cosmic mimicry. Significantly, the absence of mirror symmetry also provides an interesting way of inducing a sufficiently small cosmological constant on the brane. A small (positive) Lambda-term in this case is induced by a small asymmetry in the values of bulk fundamental constants on the two sides of the brane.
In this paper we investigate the localization of fermions on asymmetric thick branes generated by two scalars $ϕ$ and $χ$. In order to trap fermions on the asymmetric branes with kink-like warp factors, the couplings with the background scalars $η\barΨF(χ,ϕ)Ψ$ are introduced, where $F(χ,ϕ)$ is a function of $ϕ$ and $χ$. We find that the coupling $η\barΨχϕΨ$ do not support the localization of 4-dimensional fermions on the branes. While, for the case $η\barΨχΨ+η'\barΨϕΨ$, which is the kink-fermion coupling corresponding to one-scalar-generated brane scenarios, the zero mode of left-handed fermio…
We study the spectrum of gravitational perturbations around a vacuum de Sitter brane in a 5D asymmetric braneworld model, with induced curvature on the brane. This generalises the stealth acceleration model proposed by Charmousis, Gregory and Padilla (CGP) which realises the Cardassian cosmology in which power law cosmic acceleration can be driven by ordinary matter. Whenever the bulk has infinite volume we find that there is always a perturbative ghost propagating on the de Sitter brane, in contrast to the Minkowski brane case analysed by CGP. We discuss the implication of this ghost for the …
We deal with relativistic models described by a single real scalar field, searching for topological structures that behave asymmetrically, connecting minima with distinct profile. We use such features to build a new braneworld scenario, in which the source scalar field contributes to generate asymmetric hybrid brane.
We introduce a duality relation between two distinct branes, a cosmological brane with macroscopic matter and a holographic brane with microscopic gauge fields. Using brane-world cosmology with a single brane in a 5-dimensional AdS5 background, we find an explicit time-dependent holographic correspondence between the bulk metric surrounding the cosmological brane and the N=4 gauge field theory living on the boundary of the Z2-symmetric mirror bulk, identified with the holographic brane. We then relate the cosmic acceleration on the cosmological brane to the conformal anomaly of the gauge theor…
In this paper we derive, directly from the Nambu-Goto action, the relevant components of the acceleration of cosmological featureless $p$-branes, extending previous analysis based on the field theory equations in the thin-brane limit. The component of the acceleration parallel to the velocity is at the core of the velocity-dependent one-scale model for the evolution of $p$-brane networks. We use this model to show that, in a decelerating expanding universe in which the $p$-branes are relevant cosmologically, interactions cannot lead to frustration, except for fine-tuned non-relativistic networ…
This work deals with the presence of thick branes in a model with two source scalar fields that interact with one another in a very specific way. The model is new, capable of generating kinklike configurations that engender important modifications in the energy density of the system, inducing the presence of symmetric and asymmetric structures inside the brane.
We show that brane induced gravity can be realized as a low energy effective theory of brane worlds with asymmetric warped compactification. A self-accelerating universe without cosmological constant on the brane can be realized in a model where one side of the bulk has finite volume, but the other side has infinite volume. The spin-2 perturbations for brane induced gravity and asymmetric warped compactification models have the same spectrum at low energies. For a de Sitter brane, the spin-2 graviton has mass in the range $0<m^2 \leq 2H^2$, with $m^2=2H^2$ in the self-accelerating universe.
We consider a brane-world of co-dimension one without the reflection symmetry that is commonly imposed between the two sides of the brane. Using the coordinate-free formalism of the Gauss-Codacci equations, we derive the effective Einstein equations by relating the local curvature to the matter on the brane in the case when its bare tension is much larger than the localized matter, and hence show that Einstein gravity is a natural consequence of such models in the weak field limit. We find agreement with the recently derived cosmological case, which can be solved exactly, and point out that su…
We consider a Friedmann brane moving in a bulk impregnated by radiation. The setup is strongly asymmetric, with only one black hole in the bulk. The radiation emitted by this bulk black hole can be reflected, absorbed or transmitted through the brane. Radiation pressure accelerates the brane, behaving as dark energy. Absorption however generates a competing effect: the brane becomes heavier and gravitational attraction increases. We analyse the model numerically, assuming a total absorbtion on the brane for k=1. We conclude that due to the two competing effects, in this asymmetric scenario the…
This article investigates asymmetric brane-world scenarios in the limit when the bulk gravity is negligible. We show that, even when true self gravity is negligible, local mass concentrations will be subject to a mutual attraction force which simulates the effect of Newtonian gravity in the non-relativistic limit. Cosmological and also post-Newtonian constraints are examined.
Braneworld models with variable brane tension $λ$ introduce a new degree of freedom that allows for evolving gravitational and cosmological constants, the latter being a natural candidate for dark energy. We consider a thermodynamic interpretation of the varying brane tension models, by showing that the field equations with variable $λ$ can be interpreted as describing matter creation in a cosmological framework. The particle creation rate is determined by the variation rate of the brane tension, as well as by the brane-bulk energy-matter transfer rate. We investigate the effect of a variable …
The Randall-Sundrum scenario, with a 1+3-dimensional brane in a 5-dimensional bulk spacetime, can be generalized in various ways. We consider the case where the Z2-symmetry at the brane is relaxed, and in addition the gravitational action is generalized to include an induced gravity term on the brane. We derive the complete set of equations governing the gravitational dynamics for a general brane and bulk, and identify how the asymmetry and the induced gravity act as effective source terms in the projected field equations on the brane. For a Friedmann brane in an anti de Sitter bulk, the solut…
We consider the dynamics of a single probe brane on various cosmological brane backgrounds. The on-shell condition of the static probe brane leads to the supersymmetric intersection rules for static BPS configurations, though the cosmological backgrounds do not preserve any supersymmetries. This is a remarkable feature associated with the cosmological backgrounds because in the static background the on-shell condition of the static brane gives no constraint on the brane configuration. Furthermore, it follows that under this condition there is no velocity-independent force for the probe brane e…
In this note we elaborate on various five dimensional contributions to the effective 4D cosmological constant in brane systems. In solutions with vanishing 5D cosmological constant we describe a non-local mechanism of cancellation of vacuum energy between the brane and the singularities. We comment on a hidden fine tuning which is implied by this observation.
The general solution of Einstein's gravity equation in $D$ dimensions for an anisotropic and spherically symmetric matter distribution is calculated in a bulk with position dependent cosmological constant. Results for $n$ concentric $(D-2)-$branes with arbitrary mass, radius and pressure with different cosmological constant between branes are found. It is shown how the difference between the cosmological constant contributes to the effective mass of each brane, and it is also shown that the equation of state for each brane influences the dynamics of branes, which can be divided into eras accor…
We consider a recently proposed setup where a codimension one brane is embedded in the background of a smooth domain wall interpolating between AdS and Minkowski minima. Since the volume of the transverse dimension is infinite, bulk supersymmetry is intact even if brane supersymmetry is completely broken. On the other hand, in this setup unbroken bulk supersymmetry is incompatible with non-zero brane cosmological constant, so the former appears to protect the latter. In this paper we point out that, to have a consistent coupling between matter localized on the brane and bulk gravity, in this s…
The cosmology of branes undergoing the self-tuning mechanism of the cosmological constant is considered. The equations and matching conditions are derived in several coordinate systems, and an exploration of possible solution strategies is performed. The ensuing equations are solved analytically in the probe brane limit. We classify the distinct behavior for the brane cosmology and we correlate them with properties of the bulk (static) solutions. Their matching to the actual universe cosmology is addressed.
In a toy model we derive the gravitational equation on a self-gravitating curved D-brane. The effective theory on the brane is drastically changed from the ordinal Einstein equation. The net cosmological constant on the brane depends on a tuning between the brane tension and the brane charges. Moreover, non-zero matter stress tensor exists if the net cosmological constant is not zero. This fact indicates a direct connection between matters on the brane and the dark energy.
We consider a recent proposal to solve the cosmological constant problem within the context of brane world scenarios with infinite volume extra dimensions. In such theories bulk can be supersymmetric even if brane supersymmetry is completely broken. We propose a setup where unbroken bulk supersymmetry appears to protect the brane cosmological constant. This is due to a non-trivial scalar potential in the bulk which implies a non-trivial profile for a bulk scalar field. In the presence of the latter bulk supersymmetry appears to be incompatible with non-vanishing brane cosmological constant. Mo…
We derive a system of cosmological equations for a braneworld with induced curvature which is a junction between several bulk spaces. The permutation symmetry of the bulk spaces is not imposed, and the values of the fundamental constants, and even the signatures of the extra dimension, may be different on different sides of the brane. We then consider the usual partial case of two asymmetric bulk spaces and derive an exact closed system of scalar equations on the brane. We apply this result to the cosmological evolution on such a brane and describe its various partial cases.
We consider the cosmology of a ``3-brane universe'' in a five dimensional (bulk) space-time with a cosmological constant. We show that Einstein's equations admit a first integral, analogous to the first Friedmann equation, which governs the evolution of the metric in the brane, whatever the time evolution of the metric along the fifth dimension. We thus obtain the cosmological evolution in the brane for any equation of state describing the matter in the brane, without needing the dependence of the metric on the fifth dimension. In the particular case $p = w ρ$, $(w = constant)$, we give explic…
In this work we have constructed axially symmetric vacuum solutions of the gravitational field equations in a Randall-Sundrum brane. A non-null effective cosmological constant is considered, and asymptotically de Sitter and anti-de Sitter spacetimes are obtained. The solutions describe rotating black holes in a four-dimensional brane. Optical features of the solutions are treated, emphasizing the rotation of the polarization vector along null congruences.
In the backdrop of generalised Randall-Sundrum braneworld scenario, we look for the possible origin of an effective four dimensional cosmological constant ($Ω_{vis}$) on the visible 3-brane due to the effects of bulk curvature and the modulus field that can either be a constant or dependent on extra dimensional co-ordinate $y$ or a time dependent quantity. In case of constant or $y$ dependent modulus field, the induced $Ω_{vis}$ leads to an exponentially expanding Universe. For such modulus fields the presence of vacuum energy densities on either of the 3-branes as well as a non-vanishing bulk…
We discuss scalar brane world cosmological perturbations for a 3-brane world in a maximally symmetric 5D bulk. We show that Mukoyama's master equations leads, for adiabatic perturbations of a perfect fluid on the brane and for scalar field matter on the brane, to a well posed problem despite the "non local" aspect of the boundary condition on the brane. We discuss in relation to the wellposedness the way to specify initial data in the bulk.
Generalized Friedmann equations governing the cosmological evolution inside a thick brane embedded in a five-dimensional Anti-de Sitter spacetime are derived. These equations are written in terms of four-dimensional effective brane quantities obtained by integrating, along the fifth dimension, over the brane thickness. In the case of a Randall-Sundrum type cosmology, different limits of these effective quantities are considered yielding cosmological equations which interpolate between the thin brane limit (governed by unconventional brane cosmology), and the opposite limit of an ``infinite'' b…
In the context of colliding brane worlds I discuss a toy cosmological model, developed in collaboration with E. Gravanis, which arguably produces inflation and a relaxing to zero cosmological ``constant'' hierarchically small as compared to the supersymmetry breaking (TeV) scale. Supersymmetry breaking is induced by compactification of the brane worlds on magnetized tori. The crucial ingredient is the non-criticality (non conformality) of string theory on the observable brane world induced at the collision, which is thus viewed as a cause for departure from equilibrium in this system. The hier…
We consider a model with two parallel (positive tension) 3-branes separated by a distance $L$ in 5-dimensional spacetime. If the interbrane space is anti-deSitter, or is not precisely anti-deSitter but contains no event horizons, the effective 4-dimensional cosmological constant seen by observers on one of the branes (chosen to be the visible brane) becomes exponentially small as $L$ grows large.
We examine the issue of the cosmological constant in the $many$ $inflating$ branes scenario, extending on two recent models by I.Oda and Randall-Sundrum. The exact solution in a closed form is found in the slow roll approximation of the radion. Defining an effective expansion rate, which depends on the location of each brane in the fifth dimension and demanding stability for this case we show that each positive tension brane has a localized, decaying cosmological constant (the opposite process applies to the negative energy branes [4]) . The reason is that the square of the effective expansion…
We construct an asymmetric braneworld embedding with induced gravity on the brane, where stringy effects are taken into account by incorporation of the Gauss-Bonnet term in the bulk action. We derive the effective Friedmann equation of the brane and then we investigate the possible realization of the phantom-like behavior in this setup. We show that in the absence of the Gauss-Bonnet term in the bulk action (a pure induced gravity scenario), the phantom-like behavior in asymmetric case can be realized in smaller redshift than the corresponding symmetric case. We show also that in the general c…
We analyze cosmological solutions in the class of two-brane models with arbitrary tensions which contain matter with general equations of state. We show that the mass hierarchy between the two branes is determined by the ratio of the lapse functions evaluated on the branes. This ratio can be sufficiently small without fine-tuning the brane separation, once the transverse dimension is stabilized. For suitably large interbrane separations, both brane tensions are positive. We also find that the cosmological evolution obeys the standard four-dimensional Friedman equation up to small corrections.
At high energies on a cosmological brane of Randall-Sundrum type, particle interactions can produce gravitons that are emitted into the bulk and that can feed a bulk black hole. We generalize previous investigations of such radiating brane-worlds by allowing for a breaking of Z_2-symmetry, via different bulk cosmological constants and different initial black hole masses on either side of the brane. One of the notable features of asymmetry is a suppression of the asymptotic level of dark radiation, which means that nucleosynthesis constraints are easier to satisfy. There are also models where t…
We consider ``brane universe'' with nonzero tension in the models with large extra dimensions. We find exact solutions of higher-dimensional Einstein equations with single flat Minkowsky brane of arbitrary large tension (or brane cosmological constant) and compact extra dimensions. The brane curves the bulk space-time in a small region around it. There is no fine tuning of energy scales in our model.
We investigate the cosmological consequences of a two brane system embedded in a higher dimensional background spacetime with a compactified extra dimension described with an action that include the intrinsic curvature for each brane. We find that the dynamics of each brane is related to the other by means of cosmological restrictions that involve the scale factors, the equation of state parameters and the Hubble parameters of the two branes. We analyze the evolution of the scale factor and the equation of state parameter for the hidden brane when in the visible brane is present a cosmological…
We construct time dependent BPS pp-wave brane solutions in the context of M-theory and type II supergravity. It is found that N-brane solutions we considered satisfy the crossing rule as S-brane solutions but 1/8 supersymmetry remains. By applying them to the cosmological setting, inflationary solutions are obtained. During this inflation, the size of the extradimensions becomes smaller than our four-dimensional spacetime dynamically. We also discuss the mechanism for terminating this inflation and recovering the hot big-bang universe.
In this paper we deal with the cosmological dynamics of Randall-Sundrum brane-world type scenarios in which the five-dimensional Weyl tensor has a non-vanishing projection onto the three-brane where matter fields are confined. Using dynamical systems techniques, we study how the state space of Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) and Bianchi type I cosmological models is affected by the bulk Weyl tensor, focusing in the differences that appear with respect to general relativity and also Randall-Sundrum cosmological scenarios without the Weyl tensor contribution.
The aim of this contribution is to provide a short introduction to recently investigated models in which our accessible universe is a four-dimensional submanifold, or brane, embedded in a higher dimensional spacetime and ordinary matter is trapped in the brane. I focus here on the gravitational and cosmological aspects of such models with a single extra-dimension.
We show that generically the initial singularity is isotropic in spatially homogeneous cosmological models in the brane-world scenario. We then argue that it is plausible that the initial singularity is isotropic in typical brane world cosmological models. Therefore, brane cosmology naturally gives rise to a set of initial data that provide the conditions for inflation to subsequently take place, thereby solving the initial conditions problem and leading to a self--consistent and viable cosmology.
We consider a self-consistent Einstein-Maxwell-Kalb-Ramond system in the bulk D=4 space-time interacting with a variable-tension electrically charged lightlike brane. The latter serves both as a material and charge source for gravity and electromagnetism, as well as it dynamically generates a bulk space varying cosmological constant. We find an asymmetric wormhole solution describing two "universes" with different spherically symmetric black-hole-type geometries connected through a "throat" occupied by the lightlike brane. The electrically neutral "left universe" comprises the exterior region …
We address the question of cosmological perturbations in the context of brane cosmology, where our Universe is a three-brane where matter is confined, whereas gravity lives in a higher dimensional spacetime. The equations governing the bulk perturbations are computed in the case of a general warped universe. The results are then specialized to the case of a five-dimensional spacetime, scenario which has recently attracted a lot of attention. In this context, we decompose the perturbations into `scalar', `vector' and `tensor' modes, which are familiar in the standard theory of cosmological pert…
We consider the cosmological evolution of a brane for general bulk matter content. In our setup the bulk pressure and the energy exchange densities are comparable to the brane energy density. Adopting a phenomenological fluid ansatz and generalizations of it, we derive a set of exact solutions of the Friedmann equation that exhibit accelerated expansion. We find that the effective equation of state parameter for the dark energy can exhibit w=-1 crossing without the presence of exotic matter.
We present a model with an infinite volume bulk in which a braneworld with a cosmological constant evolves to a static, 4-dimensional Minkowski spacetime. This evolution occurs for a generic class of initial conditions with positive energy densities. The metric everywhere outside the brane is that of a 5-dimensional Minkowski spacetime, where the effect of the brane is the creation of a frame with a varying speed of light. This fact is encoded in the structure of the 4-dimensional graviton propagator on the braneworld, which may lead to some interesting Lorentz symmetry violating effects. In o…
The consequences for the brane cosmological evolution of energy exchange between the brane and the bulk are analysed in detail, in the context of a non-factorizable background geometry with vanishing effective cosmological constant on the brane. A rich variety of brane cosmologies is obtained, depending on the precise mechanism of energy transfer, the equation of state of brane-matter and the spatial topology. An accelerating era is generically a feature of our solutions. In the case of low-density flat universe more dark matter than in the conventional FRW picture is predicted. Spatially comp…
Orbifold branes in string theory are investigated, and the general field equations on the branes are given explicitly for type II and heterotic string. It is shown that the effective cosmological constant on each of the two branes can be easily lowered to its current observational value, using large extra dimensions. This is also true for type I string. The radion stability is studied by using the Goldberger-Wise mechanism, and shown explicitly that it is stable. Therefore, brane world of string theory provides a viable and built-in mechanism for solving the long-standing cosmological constant…
A relativistic 3-brane can be given a conformally invariant, gauge-type, formulation provided the embedding space is six-dimensional. The implementation of conformal invariance requires the use of a modified measure, independent of the metric in the action. A brane-world scenario without the need of a cosmological constant in 6D can be constructed. Thus, no ``old'' cosmological constant problem appears at this level.
We present a class of dynamical solutions in a D-dimensional gravitational theory coupled to a dilaton, a form field strength, and a cosmological constant. We find that for any D due to the presence of a cosmological constant, the metric of solutions depends on a quadratic function of the brane world volume coordinates, and the transverse space cannot be Ricci flat except for the case of 1-branes. We then discuss the dynamics of 1-branes in a D-dimensional spacetime. For a positive cosmological constant, 1-brane solutions with D>4 approach the Milne universe in the far-brane region. On the oth…
It has been suggested that codimension-two braneworlds might naturally explain the vanishing of the 4D effective cosmological constant, due to the automatic relation between the deficit angle and the brane tension. To investigate whether this cancellation happens dynamically, and within the context of a realistic cosmology, we study a codimension-two braneworld with spherical extra dimensions compactified by magnetic flux. Assuming Einstein gravity, we show that when the brane contains matter with an arbitrary equation of state, the 4D metric components are not regular at the brane, unless the…
We derive the gauge invariant perturbation equations for a 5-dimensional bulk spacetime in the presence of a brane. The equations are derived in full generality, without specifying a particular energy content of the bulk or the brane. We do not assume Z_2 symmetry, and show that the degree of freedom associated with brane motion plays a crucial role. Our formalism may also be used in the Z_2 symmetric case where it simplifies considerably.
We study cosmological dynamics and phase space of a scalar field localized on the DGP brane. We consider both the minimally and nonminimally coupled scalar quintessence and phantom fields on the brane. In the nonminimal case, the scalar field couples with induced gravity on the brane. We present a detailed analysis of the critical points, their stability and late-time cosmological viability of the solutions in the phase space of the model.
Brane-world models provide a phenomenology that allows us to explore the cosmological consequences of some M theory ideas, and at the same time to use precision cosmology as a test of these ideas. In order to achieve this, we need to understand how brane-world gravity affects cosmological dynamics and perturbations. This introductory review describes the key features of cosmological perturbations in a brane-world universe.
In this paper, we discuss the time-dependent brane solutions in higher-dimensional supergravity theories. We particularly focus on the dynamical extensions of the intersecting brane solutions involving three branes. We also show that in the near-horizon limits, where the time dependence is negligible, these branes describe warped anti-de Sitter spacetimes as in the corresponding static solutions. We finally examine the lower-dimensional cosmological dynamics obtained after compactifications of the higher-dimensional solutions and show the solutions we have found give the four-dimensional unive…
We study global defects coupled to higher-dimensional gravity with a negative cosmological constant. This paper is mainly devoted to studying global black brane solutions which are extended global defects surrounded by horizons. We find series solutions in a few separated regions and confirm numerically that they can be mutually connected. When the world volume of the brane is Ricci-flat, the brane is surrounded by a degenerated horizon, while it is surrounded by two horizons when the world volume has a positive constant curvature. Each solution corresponds to an extremal and a non-extremal st…
We analyze cosmological equations in the brane world scenario with one extra space-like dimension. We demonstrate that the cosmological equations can be reduced to the usual 4D Friedmann type if the bulk energy-momentum tensor is different from zero. We then generalize these equations to the case of a brane of finite thickness. We also demonstrate that when the bulk energy-momentum tensor is different from zero, the extra space-like dimension can be compactified with a single brane and show that the stability of the radius of compactification implies standard cosmology and vice versa. For a br…
In this note we consider the spontaneous creation of the brane world in five-dimensional space with nondynamical external four-form field via spherically asymmetric bounce solution. We argue that spherically asymmetric bounce suggests several inequivalent directions of the time arrow upon the analytic continuation to the space-time with Lorentzian signature. It it shown that S-branes in the imaginary time emerge naturally upon the particular continuation.
We consider 5-dimensional cosmological solutions of a single brane. The correct cosmology on the brane, i.e., governed by the standard 4-dimensional Friedmann equation, and stable compactification of the extra dimension is guaranteed by the existence of a non-vanishing \hat{T}^5_5 which is proportional to the 4-dimensional trace of the energy-momentum tensor. We show that this component of the energy-momentum tensor arises from the backreaction of the dilaton coupling to the brane. The same positive features are exhibited in solutions found in the presence of non-vanishing cosmological constan…
For a cosmological Randall-Sundrum braneworld with anisotropy, i.e., of Bianchi type, the modified Einstein equations on the brane include components of the five-dimensional Weyl tensor for which there are no evolution equations on the brane. If the bulk field equations are not solved, this Weyl term remains unknown, and many previous studies have simply prescribed it ad hoc. We construct a family of Bianchi braneworlds with anisotropy by solving the five-dimensional field equations in the bulk. We analyze the cosmological dynamics on the brane, including the Weyl term, and shed light on the r…
We present an exact solution for a factorizable brane-world spacetime with two extra dimensions and explicit brane sources. The compactification manifold has the topology of a two-sphere, and is stabilized by a bulk cosmological constant and magnetic flux. The geometry of the sphere is locally round except for conical singularities at the locations of two antipodal branes, deforming the sphere into an American-style football. The bulk magnetic flux needs to be fine-tuned to obtain flat geometry on the branes. Once this is done, the brane geometry is insensitive to the brane vacuum energy, whic…
Using some simple toy models, we explore the nature of the brane-bulk interaction for cosmological models with a large extra dimension. We are in particular interested in understanding the role of the bulk gravitons, which from the point of view of an observer on the brane will appear to generate dissipation and nonlocality, effects which cannot be incorporated into an effective (3+1)-dimensional Lagrangian field theoretic description. We explicitly work out the dynamics of several discrete systems consisting of a finite number of degrees of freedom on the boundary coupled to a (1+1)-dimension…
It is shown that the gauge theory of relativistic 3-Branes can be formulated in a conformally invariant way if the embedding space is six-dimensional. The implementation of conformal invariance requires the use of a modified measure, independent of the metric in the action. Brane-world scenarios without the need of a cosmological constant in 6D are constructed. Thus, no ``old'' cosmological constant problem appears at this level.
We construct a model where cosmological perturbations are analytically solved based on dilatonic brane worlds. A bulk scalar field has an exponential potential in the bulk and an exponential coupling to the brane tension. The bulk scalar field yields a power-law inflation on the brane. The exact background metric can be found including the back-reaction of the scalar field. Then exact solutions for cosmological perturbations which properly satisfy the junction conditions on the brane are derived. These solutions provide us an interesting model to understand the connection between the behavior …
We present numerical evidence that a domain wall in a background with varying vacuum energy density acquires velocity in the direction of decreasing Hubble parameter. This should lead to at least a partial relaxation of the cosmological constant on the wall.