Stabilization of Sub-Millimeter Dimensions: The New Guise of the Hierarchy Problem

A new framework for solving the hierarchy problem was recently proposed which does not rely on low energy supersymmetry or technicolor. The fundamental Planck mass is at a $\tev$ and the observed weakness of gravity at long distances is due the existence of new sub-millimeter spatial dimensions. In...

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Main Authors: Arkani-Hamed, N, Dimopoulos, S, March-Russell, J
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: 1998
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author Arkani-Hamed, N
Dimopoulos, S
March-Russell, J
author_facet Arkani-Hamed, N
Dimopoulos, S
March-Russell, J
author_sort Arkani-Hamed, N
collection OXFORD
description A new framework for solving the hierarchy problem was recently proposed which does not rely on low energy supersymmetry or technicolor. The fundamental Planck mass is at a $\tev$ and the observed weakness of gravity at long distances is due the existence of new sub-millimeter spatial dimensions. In this picture the standard model fields are localized to a $(3+1)$-dimensional wall or ``3-brane''. The hierarchy problem becomes isomorphic to the problem of the largeness of the extra dimensions. This is in turn inextricably linked to the cosmological constant problem, suggesting the possibility of a common solution. The radii of the extra dimensions must be prevented from both expanding to too great a size, and collapsing to the fundamental Planck length $\tev^{-1}$. In this paper we propose a number of mechanisms addressing this question. We argue that a positive bulk cosmological constant $\bar\Lambda$ can stabilize the internal manifold against expansion, and that the value of $\bar\Lambda$ is not unstable to radiative corrections provided that the supersymmetries of string theory are broken by dynamics on our 3-brane. We further argue that the extra dimensions can be stabilized against collapse in a phenomenologically successful way by either of two methods: 1) Large, topologically conserved quantum numbers associated with higher-form bulk U(1) gauge fields, such as the naturally occurring Ramond-Ramond gauge fields, or the winding number of bulk scalar fields. 2) The brane-lattice-crystallization of a large number of 3-branes in the bulk. These mechanisms are consistent with theoretical, laboratory, and cosmological considerations such as the absence of large time variations in Newton's constant during and after primordial nucleosynthesis, and millimeter-scale tests of gravity.
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spelling oxford-uuid:f710d760-af1d-4a4a-a58c-fc0cf61acc952022-03-27T12:39:50ZStabilization of Sub-Millimeter Dimensions: The New Guise of the Hierarchy ProblemJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:f710d760-af1d-4a4a-a58c-fc0cf61acc95EnglishSymplectic Elements at Oxford1998Arkani-Hamed, NDimopoulos, SMarch-Russell, JA new framework for solving the hierarchy problem was recently proposed which does not rely on low energy supersymmetry or technicolor. The fundamental Planck mass is at a $\tev$ and the observed weakness of gravity at long distances is due the existence of new sub-millimeter spatial dimensions. In this picture the standard model fields are localized to a $(3+1)$-dimensional wall or ``3-brane''. The hierarchy problem becomes isomorphic to the problem of the largeness of the extra dimensions. This is in turn inextricably linked to the cosmological constant problem, suggesting the possibility of a common solution. The radii of the extra dimensions must be prevented from both expanding to too great a size, and collapsing to the fundamental Planck length $\tev^{-1}$. In this paper we propose a number of mechanisms addressing this question. We argue that a positive bulk cosmological constant $\bar\Lambda$ can stabilize the internal manifold against expansion, and that the value of $\bar\Lambda$ is not unstable to radiative corrections provided that the supersymmetries of string theory are broken by dynamics on our 3-brane. We further argue that the extra dimensions can be stabilized against collapse in a phenomenologically successful way by either of two methods: 1) Large, topologically conserved quantum numbers associated with higher-form bulk U(1) gauge fields, such as the naturally occurring Ramond-Ramond gauge fields, or the winding number of bulk scalar fields. 2) The brane-lattice-crystallization of a large number of 3-branes in the bulk. These mechanisms are consistent with theoretical, laboratory, and cosmological considerations such as the absence of large time variations in Newton's constant during and after primordial nucleosynthesis, and millimeter-scale tests of gravity.
spellingShingle Arkani-Hamed, N
Dimopoulos, S
March-Russell, J
Stabilization of Sub-Millimeter Dimensions: The New Guise of the Hierarchy Problem
title Stabilization of Sub-Millimeter Dimensions: The New Guise of the Hierarchy Problem
title_full Stabilization of Sub-Millimeter Dimensions: The New Guise of the Hierarchy Problem
title_fullStr Stabilization of Sub-Millimeter Dimensions: The New Guise of the Hierarchy Problem
title_full_unstemmed Stabilization of Sub-Millimeter Dimensions: The New Guise of the Hierarchy Problem
title_short Stabilization of Sub-Millimeter Dimensions: The New Guise of the Hierarchy Problem
title_sort stabilization of sub millimeter dimensions the new guise of the hierarchy problem
work_keys_str_mv AT arkanihamedn stabilizationofsubmillimeterdimensionsthenewguiseofthehierarchyproblem
AT dimopouloss stabilizationofsubmillimeterdimensionsthenewguiseofthehierarchyproblem
AT marchrussellj stabilizationofsubmillimeterdimensionsthenewguiseofthehierarchyproblem