Quantum (In)Stability of a Brane-World AdS$\bf_5$ Universe at Nonzero Temperature

TL;DR

This paper investigates quantum effects of bulk matter in a thermal AdS$_5$ brane-world, revealing a potential stabilization mechanism for the brane separation at low temperatures, with implications for hierarchy problem solutions.

Contribution

It introduces a new dynamical stabilization mechanism for the brane-world via quantum effects at finite temperature, extending the understanding of brane stability in AdS/CFT contexts.

Findings

Thermodynamic potential can have a minimum, stabilizing the brane separation.

Stabilization may occur at low temperatures compatible with hierarchy scale.

Quantum effects influence brane stability and hierarchy problem solutions.

Abstract

We consider the quantum effects of bulk matter (scalars, spinors) in the Randall-Sundrum AdS$_5$ brane-world at nonzero temperature. The thermodynamic energy (modulus potential) is evaluated at low and high temperatures. This potential has an extremum which could be a minimum in some cases (for example, for a single fermion). That suggests a new dynamical mechanism to stabilize the thermal AdS$_5$ brane-world. It is shown that the brane separation required to solve the hierarchy scale problem may occur at a quite low temperature. A natural generalization in terms of the AdS/CFT correspondence (through the supergravity thermal contribution) is also possible.