Improving the `self-tuning' mechanism with a Gauss-Bonnet term

TL;DR

This paper explores how adding a Gauss-Bonnet term to higher order gravity influences a dilatonic brane world model, demonstrating a self-tuning mechanism that can relax the cosmological constant without fine tuning.

Contribution

It introduces a specific class of solutions with finite Planck scale and no singularities, enhancing the self-tuning approach in brane world models with higher order gravity terms.

Findings

Finite 4D Planck scale achieved

No naked singularities in solutions

Self-tuning mechanism reduces cosmological constant without fine tuning

Abstract

The effects of higher order gravity terms on a dilatonic brane world model are discussed. For a single positive tension flat 3-brane, and one infinite extra dimension, we present a particular class of solutions with finite 4-dimensional Planck scale and no naked singularities. A `self-tuning' mechanism for relaxing the cosmological constant on the brane, without a drastic fine tuning of parameters, is discussed in this context.