Brane world perspective on the cosmological constant and the hierarchy problems

Journal Article · Wed Aug 15 04:00:00 EDT 2001 · Physical Review D

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.64.045007· OSTI ID:917360

Flanagan, Eanna; Jones, Nicholas; Stoica, Horace; Tye, S.-H. Henry; Wasserman, Ira

We elaborate on the recently proposed static brane world scenario, where the effective 4D cosmological constant is exponentially small when parallel 3-branes are far apart. We extend this result to a compactified model with two positive tension branes. In addition to an exponentially small effective 4D cosmological constant, this model incorporates a Randall-Sundrum-like solution to the hierarchy problem. Furthermore, the exponential factors for the hierarchy problem and the cosmological constant problem obey an inequality that is satisfied in nature. This inequality implies that the cosmological constant problem can be explained if the hierarchy problem is understood. The basic idea generalizes to the multibrane world scenario. We discuss models with piecewise adjustable bulk cosmological constants (to be determined by the 5-dimensional Einstein equation), a key element of the scenario. We also discuss the global structure of this scenario and clarify the physical properties of the particle (Rindler) horizons that are present. Finally, we derive a 4D effective theory in which all observers on all branes not separated by particle horizons measure the same Newton's constant and 4D cosmological constant.

• Sponsoring Organization: (US)
• OSTI ID: 917360
• Journal Information: Physical Review D, Journal Name: Physical Review D Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 64; ISSN 0556-2821
• Publisher: The American Physical Society
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
COSMOLOGICAL CONSTANT
EINSTEIN FIELD EQUATIONS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES