A new cosmological scenario in string theory

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2002

Authors

Cornalba, L (Author) Other; Costa, MS (Author) FCUP

Journal

Title: Physical Review D: Particles and fields

Vol. 66

ISSN: 0556-2821

Publisher: American Physical Society

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 227 Citations

Scopus - 230 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Natural sciences > Physical sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-007-AH8

DOI: 10.1103/physrevd.66.066001

Abstract (EN): We consider new cosmological solutions with a collapsing, an intermediate and an expanding phase. The boundary between the expanding (collapsing) phase and the intermediate phase is seen by comoving observers as a cosmological past (future) horizon. The solutions are naturally embedded in string and M theory. In the particular case of a two-dimensional cosmology, space-time is flat with an identification under boost and translation transformations. We consider the corresponding string theory orbifold and calculate the modular invariant one-loop partition function. In this case there is a strong parallel with the BTZ black hole. The higher dimensional cosmologies have a timelike curvature singularity in the intermediate region. In some cases the string coupling can be made small throughout all of space-time but string corrections become important at the singularity. This happens where string winding modes become light which could resolve the singularity. The new proposed space-time causal structure could have implications for cosmology, independently of string theory.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific