Taxonomy of Brane Gravity Localisations

TL;DR

This paper develops a detailed taxonomy of how gravity can be localized on branes within higher-dimensional theories, distinguishing between different scenarios based on boundary conditions and mode inclusion, with applications to supergravity backgrounds.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive classification of brane gravity localizations, clarifies the conditions for effective lower-dimensional gravity, and analyzes Newton constant interpretations in specific supergravity models.

Findings

Type I localization involves Kaluza-Klein truncation without true gravity localization.

Type II allows coupling to higher-dimensional sources without special boundary conditions.

Type III enables effective lower-dimensional gravity with specific boundary conditions and zero modes.

Abstract

Generating an effective theory of lower-dimensional gravity on a submanifold within an original higher-dimensional theory can be achieved even if the reduction space is non-compact. Localisation of gravity on such a lower-dimensional worldvolume can be interpreted in a number of ways. The first scenario, Type I, requires a mathematically consistent Kaluza-Klein style truncation down to a theory in the lower dimension, in which case solutions purely within that reduced theory exist. However, that situation is not a genuine localisation of gravity because all such solutions have higher-dimensional source extensions according to the Kaluza-Klein ansatz. Also, there is no meaningful notion of Newton's constant for such Type I constructions. Types II and III admit coupling to genuinely localised sources in the higher-dimensional theory, with corresponding solutions involving full sets of higher-dimensional modes. Type II puts no specific boundary conditions near the worldvolume aside from regularity away from sources. In a case where the wave equation separated in the non-compact space transverse to the worldvolume admits a normalisable zero mode, the Type III scenario requires boundary conditions near the worldvolume that permit the inclusion of that zero mode in mode expansions for gravitational wave fluctuations or potentials. In such a case, an effective theory of lower-dimensional gravity can emerge at sufficiently large worldvolume distance scales. This taxonomy of brane gravity localisations is developed in detail for linearised perturbations about a background incorporating the vacuum solution of Salam-Sezgin theory when embedded into ten-dimensional supergravity with a hyperbolic non-compact transverse space. Interpretations of the Newton constant for the corresponding Type III localisation are then analysed.