Warped compactification to de Sitter space

We explore in detail the prospects of obtaining a four-dimensional de Sitter universe in classical supergravity models with warped and time-independent extra dimensions, presenting explicit cosmological solutions of the $(4+n)$-dimensional Einstein equations with and without a bulk cosmological constant term. For the first time in the literature we show that there may exist a large class of warped supergravity models with a noncompact extra dimension which lead to a finite 4D Newton constant as well as a massless 4D graviton localised on an inflating four-dimensional FLRW universe. This result helps establish that the `no-go' theorem forbidding acceleration in `standard' compactification of string/M-theory on physically compact spaces should not apply to a general class of warped supergravity models that allows at least one noncompact direction. We present solutions for which the size of the radial dimension takes a constant value in the large volume limit, providing an explicit example of spontaneous compactification.Comment: 19 pages, 2 figures; final (journal) versio

Accelerating cosmologies from compactification with a twist

It is demonstrated by explicit solutions of the (4+n)-dimensional vacuum Einstein equations that accelerating cosmologies in the Einstein conformal frame can be obtained by a time-dependent compactification of string/M-theory, even in the case that internal dimensions are Ricci-flat, provided one includes one or more geometric twists. Such acceleration is transient. When both compact hyperbolic internal spaces and geometric twists are included, however, the period of accelerated expansion may be made arbitrarily large.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figure, RevTeX

Natural Braneworld Inflation in Light of Recent Results from Planck and BICEP2

In this paper we report on a major theoretical observation in cosmology. We present a concrete cosmological model for which inflation has natural beginning and natural ending. Inflation is driven by a cosine-form potential, $V(\phi)= \Lambda^4 (1-\cos(\phi/f))$, which begins at $\phi \lesssim \pi f$ and ends at $\phi =\phi_{\text{end}} \lesssim 5 f/3$. The distance traversed by the inflaton field $\phi$ is sub-Planckian. The Gauss-Bonnet term ${\cal R}^2$ arising as leading curvature corrections in the action $S = \int d^5{x} \sqrt{-g_{5}} M^3 (- 6\lambda M^2 + R + \alpha M^{-2} {\cal R}^2)+ \int d^{4}x \sqrt{-g_{4}} (\dot{\phi}^2/2 - V(\phi)- \sigma +{\cal L}_{\text{matter}})$ (where $\alpha$ and $\lambda$ are constants and $M$ is the five-dimensional Planck mass) plays a key role to terminate inflation. The model generates appropriate tensor-to-scalar ratio $r$ and inflationary perturbations that are consistent with results from Planck and BICEP2. For example, for $N_*= 50-60$ and $n_s\sim 0.960\pm 0.005$, the model predicts that $M\sim 5.64\times 10^{16}\,{\text{GeV}}$ and $r\sim (0.14-0.21)$ [$N_*$ is the number of {\it e}--folds of inflation and $n_s$ ($n_{t}$) is the scalar (tensor) spectrum spectral index]. The ratio $-n_t/r$ is (13% -- 24%) less than its value in 4D Einstein gravity, $-n_t/r=1/8$. The upper bound on the energy scale of inflation $V^{1/4}=2.37\times 10^{16}\,{\text{GeV}}$ ($r<0.27$) implies that $(-\lambda \alpha) \gtrsim 75 \times 10^{-5}$ and $\Lambda<2.17\times 10^{16}\,{\text{GeV}}$, which thereby rule out the case $\alpha=0$ (Randall-Sundrum model). The true nature of gravity is holographic as implied by braneworld realization of string and M theory. The model correctly predicts a late epoch cosmic acceleration with the dark energy equation of state ${\text w}_{\text{DE}}\approx -1$.Comment: 13 pages, 14 figures; v2: minor changes, published versio

The warping of extra spaces accelerates the expansion of the universe

Generic cosmological models derived from higher dimensional theories with warped extra dimensions have a nonzero cosmological constant-like term induced on the 3+1 space-time, or a physical 3-brane. In the scenario where this 3+1 space-time is an inflating de Sitter "brane" embedded in a higher-dimensional space-time, described by warped geometry, the 4D cosmological term is determined in terms of two length scales: one is a scale associated with the size of extra dimension(s) and the other is a scale associated with the warping of extra space(s). The existence of this term in four dimensions provides a tantalizing possibility of explaining the observed accelerating expansion of the universe from fundamental theories of gravity, e.g. string theory.Comment: 7 pages, no figure; Selected for an "Honorable Mention" (15 May 2010) in the Gravity Research Foundation 2010 Awards for Essays on Gravitatio

Remarks on Dynamical Dark Energy Measured by the Conformal Age of the Universe

We elaborate on a model of conformal dark energy (dynamical dark energy measured by the conformal age of the universe) recently proposed in [H. Wei and R.G. Cai, arXiv:0708.0884] where the present-day dark energy density was taken to be $\rho_q \equiv 3 \alpha^2 m_P^2/\eta^2$, where $\eta$ is the conformal time and $\alpha$ is a numerical constant. In the absence of an interaction between the ordinary matter and dark energy field $q$, the model may be adjusted to the present values of the dark energy density fraction $\Omega\Z{q} \simeq 0.73$ and the equation of state parameter $w\Z{q} < -0.78$, if the numerical constant $\alpha$ takes a reasonably large value, $\alpha\gtrsim 2.6$. However, in the presence of a nontrivial gravitational coupling of $q$-field to matter, say $\widetilde{Q}$, the model may be adjusted to the values $\Omega\Z{q}\simeq 0.73$ and $w\Z{q}\simeq -1$, even if $\alpha\sim {\cal O}(1)$, given that the present value of $\widetilde{Q}$ is large. Unlike for the model in [R.G. Cai, arXiv:0707.4049], the bound $\Omega\Z{q} <0.1$ during big bang nucleosynthesis (BBN) may be satisfied for almost any value of $\alpha$. Here we discuss some other limitations of this proposal as a viable dark energy model. The model draws some parallels with the holographic dark energy; we also briefly comment on the latter model.Comment: 16 pages, 10 figures, a reference added, the version to appear in Phys. Rev.

On applicability of inhomogeneous diffusion approach to localized transport through disordered waveguides

In this work we show analytically and numerically that wave transport through random waveguides can be modeled as a diffusion with an inhomogeneous diffusion coefficient (IDC). In localized regime, IDC retains the memory of the source position. In an absorbing random medium, IDC becomes independent of the source.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure