Effects of Quantum Stress Tensor Fluctuations with Compact Extra Dimensions

TL;DR

This paper investigates how compact extra dimensions influence quantum stress tensor fluctuations, finding that gravitational effects remain finite and do not lead to observable constraints on Kaluza-Klein theories.

Contribution

It demonstrates that the gravitational effects of stress tensor fluctuations are finite in the small volume limit, challenging previous expectations of observable effects.

Findings

Fluctuations increase as compactification volume decreases

Gravitational effects remain finite despite increased fluctuations

No observational constraints on Kaluza-Klein theories are derived

Abstract

The effects of compact extra dimensions upon quantum stress tensor fluctuations are discussed. It is argued that as the compactification volume decrease, these fluctuations increase in magnitude. In principle, this would have the potential to create observable effects, such as luminosity fluctuations or angular blurring of distant sources, and lead to constraints upon Kaluza-Klein theories. However, the dependence of the four-dimensional Newton's constant upon the compactification volume causes the gravitational effects of the stress tensor fluctuations to be finite in the limit of small volume. Consequently, no observational constraints upon Kaluza-Klein theories are obtained.