Casimir Effect Between World-Branes in Heterotic M-Theory
- Creators
- Fabinger, Michal
- Hořava, Petr
Abstract
We study a non-supersymmetric E_8 × E_8 compactification of M-theory on S^1/Z_2, related to the supersymmetric E_8 × E_8 theory by a chirality flip at one of the boundaries. This system represents an M-theory analog of the D-brane anti-D-brane systems of string theory. Alternatively, this compactification can be viewed as a model of supersymmetry breaking in the "brane-world" approach to phenomenology. We calculate the Casimir energy of the system at large separations, and show that there is an attractive Casimir force between the E_8 × E_8 boundary. We predict that a tachyonic instability develops at separations of order the Planck scale, and discuss the possibility that the M-theory fivebrane might appear as a topological defect supported by the E_8 × E_8 system. Finally, we analyze the eventual fate of the configuration, in the semiclassical approximation at large separations: the two ends of the world annihilate by nucleating wormholes between the two boundaries.
Additional Information
© 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. Received 17 February 2000; Accepted 26 April 2000. Available online 7 July 2000. During the course of this work, M.F. benefitted from helpful discussions with J. Formánek, L. Motl, and J. Niederle. P.H. wishes to acknowledge useful conversations with O. Bergman, E. Gimon, C. Johnson, and E. Witten. The work of M.F. has been supported in part by an undergraduate fellowship at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University, and by the Institute of Physics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic under Grant No. GA-AVČR A1010711. The work of P.H. has been supported by a Sherman Fairchild Prize Fellowship, and by DOE grant DE-FG03-92-ER 40701.Attached Files
Submitted - FABnpb00preprint.pdf
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Additional details
- Eprint ID
- 27963
- Resolver ID
- CaltechAUTHORS:20111128-092205889
- Charles University Faculty of Mathematics and Physics
- Institute of Physics
- GA-AVČR A1010711
- Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic
- Sherman Fairchild Foundation
- DE-FG03-92-ER 40701
- Department of Energy (DOE)
- Created
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2011-11-28Created from EPrint's datestamp field
- Updated
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2021-11-09Created from EPrint's last_modified field