Braneworlds and Quantum States of Relativistic Shells

TL;DR

This paper reviews the application of relativistic shells in quantum gravity and cosmology, introducing a semiclassical approach to determine stationary states, with potential relevance to brane-world scenarios.

Contribution

It presents a novel semiclassical method for analyzing stationary states of relativistic shells, applicable to quantum cosmology and brane-world models.

Findings

Semiclassical approach to relativistic shells established

Potential phenomenological relevance to brane-world scenarios

Framework for future developments in quantum gravity

Abstract

We review some applications of relativistic shells that are relevant in the context of quantum gravity/quantum cosmology. Using a recently developed approach, the stationary states of this general relativistic system can be determined in the semiclassical approximation. We suggest that this technique might be of phenomenological relevance in the context of the brane-world scenario and we draw a picture of the general set-up and of the possible developments.