Topological defect brane-world models

TL;DR

This paper explores 5D brane-world models with scalar fields that mimic topological defects, leading to instantonic solutions capable of producing flat or inflating branes, with extensions to higher dimensions.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach where scalar fields mimic topological defects, enabling new instantonic solutions for brane-world constructions.

Findings

Scalar fields can mimic topological defect networks in 5D models.

Instantonic solutions can produce flat or inflating branes.

Extensions to higher dimensions are briefly discussed.

Abstract

5-dimensional homogeneous and isotropic models with a bulk cosmological constant and a minimally coupled scalar field are considered. We have found that in special cases the scalar field can mimic a frustrated (i.e. disordered) networks of topological defects: cosmic strings, domain walls and hyperdomain walls. This equivalence enabled us to obtain 5-dimensional instantonic solutions which can be used to construct brane-world models. In some cases, their analytic continuation to a Lorentzian metric signature give rise to either 4-dimensional flat or inflating branes. Models with arbitrary dimensions (D $>$ 5) are also briefly discussed.