Kinky Brane Worlds

TL;DR

This paper introduces a toy model for five-dimensional heterotic M-theory using kink solutions to represent bulk three-branes, allowing analysis of topology change through defect evolution and boundary interactions.

Contribution

It proposes a novel scalar field theory model for M-theory branes, linking defect topologies to M-theory compactifications and studying their dynamics.

Findings

Kink solutions correspond to distinct M-theory vacua.

Kinks are typically absorbed by boundaries, altering boundary charge.

The model enables exploration of topology change in brane-world scenarios.

Abstract

We present a toy model for five-dimensional heterotic M-theory where bulk three-branes, originating in 11 dimensions from M five-branes, are modelled as kink solutions of a bulk scalar field theory. It is shown that the vacua of this defect model correspond to a class of topologically distinct M-theory compactifications. Topology change can then be analysed by studying the time evolution of the defect model. In the context of a four-dimensional effective theory, we study in detail the simplest such process, that is the time evolution of a kink and its collision with a boundary. We find that the kink is generically absorbed by the boundary thereby changing the boundary charge. This opens up the possibility of exploring the relation between more complicated defect configurations and the topology of brane-world models.