Gauge Symmetry and Localized Gravity in M Theory

TL;DR

This paper explores the possibility of gravity localization in certain dimensions within M theory and finds that gauge symmetry tends to be broken or screened rather than truly localized, with implications for charged objects.

Contribution

It analyzes the conditions under which gauge symmetry can appear to be global in lower dimensions and shows that in M theory such effects are not microscopically sustained.

Findings

Gravity localization is not microscopically realized in basic M theory models.

Gauge symmetry is either screened or Higgsed at long distances.

Charged objects exhibit screening or Higgs mechanisms rather than pure localization.

Abstract

We discuss the possibility of having gravity ``localized'' in dimension d in a system where gauge bosons propagate in dimension d+1. In such a circumstance - depending on the rate of falloff of the field strengths in d dimensions - one might expect the gauge symmetry in d+1 dimensions to behave like a global symmetry in d dimensions, despite the presence of gravity. Naive extrapolation of warped long-wavelength solutions of general relativity coupled to scalars and gauge fields suggests that such an effect might be possible. However, in some basic realizations of such solutions in M theory, we find that this effect does not persist microscopically. It turns over either to screening or the Higgs mechanism at long distances in the d-dimensional description of the system. We briefly discuss the physics of charged objects in this type of system.