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Abstract:

Inflationary solutions are constructed in a specific five-dimensional model with boundaries motivated by heterotic M theory. We concentrate on the case where the vacuum energy is provided by potentials on those boundaries. It is pointed out that the presence of such potentials necessarily excites bulk fields. We distinguish a linear and a non-linear regime for those modes. In the linear regime, inflation can be discussed in an effective four-dimensional theory in the conventional way. This effective action is derived by integrating out the bulk modes. Therefore, these modes do not give rise to excited Kaluza-Klein modes from a four-dimensional perspective. We lift a four-dimensional inflating solution up to five dimensions where it represents an inflating domain wall pair. This shows explicitly the inhomogeneity in the fifth dimension. We also demonstrate the existence of inflating solutions with unconventional properties in the non-linear regime. Specifically, we find solutions with and without an horizon between the two boundaries. These solutions have certain problems associated with the stability of the additional dimension and the persistence of initial excitations of the Kaluza-Klein modes. © 1999 The American Physical Society.

Abstract:

We study the constraints on five-dimensional script N = 1 heterotic M-theory imposed by a consistent anomaly-free coupling of bulk and boundary theory. This requires analyzing the cancellation of triangle gauge anomalies on the four-dimensional orbifold planes due to anomaly inflow from the bulk. We find that the semi-simple part of the orbifold gauge groups and certain U(1) symmetries have to be free of quantum anomalies. In addition there can be several anomalous U(1) symmetries on each orbifold plane whose anomalies are cancelled by a non-trivial variation of the bulk vector fields. The mixed U(1) non-abelian anomaly is universal and there is at most one U(1) symmetry with such an anomaly on each plane. In an alternative approach, we also analyze the coupling of five-dimensional gauged supergravity to orbifold gauge theories. We find a somewhat generalized structure of anomaly cancellation in this case which allows, for example, non-universal mixed U(1) gauge anomalies. Anomaly cancellation from the perspective of four-dimensional script N = 1 effective actions obtained from E8 x E8 heterotic string- or M-theory by reduction on a Calabi-Yau three-fold is studied as well. The results are consistent with the ones found for five-dimensional heterotic M-theory. Finally, we consider some related issues of phenomenological interest such as model building with anomalous U(1) symmetries, Fayet-Illiopoulos terms and threshold corrections to gauge kinetic functions.

Abstract:

We construct vacua of heterotic M-theory with general gauge bundles and five-branes. Some aspects of the resulting low-energy effective theories are discussed.