On Brane Stabilization and the Cosmological Constant

TL;DR

This paper explores how brane stabilization mechanisms within the Randall-Sundrum model can potentially explain the small observed cosmological constant, emphasizing the role of vacuum fluctuation cutoffs around 10 TeV.

Contribution

It demonstrates that a small cosmological constant consistent with observations can arise from brane tension adjustments with an ultraviolet cutoff near 10 TeV.

Findings

Small changes in brane tension can be absorbed without large cosmological effects.

A cutoff of about 10 TeV in vacuum fluctuations can produce the observed cosmological constant.

The model allows for a stable brane configuration compatible with current data.

Abstract

We address the problem of the cosmological constant within the Randall-Sundrum scenario with a brane stabilization mechanism. We consider brane tensions of general form. We examine the conditions under which a small change of the positive tension of the first brane can be absorbed in a small modification of the two-brane configuration, instead of manifesting itself as a cosmological constant. We demonstrate that it is possible to have a cosmological constant in the range predicted by recent observational data, if there is an ultraviolet cutoff of order 10 TeV in the contributions to the brane tension from vacuum fluctuations.