Search arXiv⌕ Search
Home/Archive/arXiv

arXiv · 2608.16772

The linear dilaton in cosmology and particle physics

Eugenio Megias·Mariano Quiros
View original source ↗Read source document ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

A warped extra dimension in a five-dimensional (5D) anti de Sitter (AdS) background was introduced in 1999 by Lisa Randall and Raman Sundrum to solve the gauge hierarchy problem in particle physics. As a bonus, a holographic interpretation in terms of four dimensional (4D) conformal field theories (CFT) was found. Interestingly enough, another 5D background, the linear dilaton (LD), was found to have a holographic interpretation in terms of Little String Theory. In this review we will show how a set of 5D backgrounds, parametrized in terms of a real parameter $ν$, generalizes both theories and gives rise, in particular, to AdS for $ν=0$ and to LD for $ν=1$. Furthermore, working in the 5D theory, we will consider applications of the LD background to: i) Particle Physics, so that the 5D Planck scale can be lowered to sub-Planckian values, ii) Brane World Cosmology (BWC), based on the appearance of an extra vacuum characterized by a 5D black hole. In all cases we find a gapped continuum for bulk propagating fields, which makes connection with unparticles. In the case of BWC we also point out on the existence of a pressureless holographic fluid which could play the role of dark matter (DM), with feeble (gravitational) interactions to the Standard Model (SM), decoupled from the thermal SM bath, and generated by a freeze-in mechanism after inflation. We also point out the additional possibility of identifying DM with a long-lived feebly interacting massive graviton, as an isolated resonance generated by radiative corrections to the continuum graviton propagator self-energy.

Explore related subjects

hep-thastro-ph.COgr-qchep-ph

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

Eugenio Megias, Mariano Quiros. 2026-08-17. The linear dilaton in cosmology and particle physics. https://arxiv.org/abs/2608.16772

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related papers

arXiv2026

Gaillard-Zumino non-invertible symmetries

We uncover an infinite class of novel zero-form non-invertible symmetries in a broad family of four-dimensional models, studied years ago by Gaillard and Zumino (GZ), which includes several extended supergravities as particular subcases. The GZ models consist of abelian gauge fields coupled to a neutral sector, typically including a set of scalars, whose equations of motion are classically invariant under a continuous group $\mathscr{G}$ acting on the electric and magnetic field strengths via symplectic transformations. The standard lore holds that, at the quantum level, these symmetries are broken to an integral subgroup $\mathscr{G}_\mathbb{Z}$. We show that, in fact, a much larger subgroup $\mathscr{G}_\mathbb{Q}$ survives, albeit through non-invertible topological defects. We explicitly construct these defects and compute some of their fusion rules. As illustrative examples, we consider the axion-dilaton-Maxwell model and the bosonic sector of a class of $\mathcal{N}=2$ supergravities of the kind that appear in type II Calabi-Yau compactifications. Finally, we comment on how (part of) these non-invertible zero-form symmetries can be broken by gauging the $\mathscr{G}_\mathbb{Z}$ subgroup of invertible symmetries.

hep-th↗
arXiv2026

On the resolution of categorical symmetries in (Non-) Unitary Rational CFTs

We explore several aspects of categorical symmetry-resolved entanglement entropy (SREE) directly within two-dimensional rational conformal field theory (RCFT) (without invoking any SymTFT construction arXiv:2409.02806). We derive a general formula applicable whenever the action of the relevant topological defect lines on the annulus Hilbert space is known. This framework accommodates weakly and strongly symmetric boundaries, cloaking states, and fusion rings with multiplicities. We verify the formula in a range of diagonal unitary and non-unitary examples, including theories with generalized Haagerup-Izumi modular data. Furthermore, we extend the analysis to non-diagonal RCFTs. The $\frac{1}{2}E_6$ example demonstrates that closed-channel modular data and NIM-rep multiplicities alone do not suffice to determine the defect action on the complete open-channel Hilbert space.

hep-th↗
arXiv2026

Reflecting boundary conditions in critical loop models

In critical loop models, we call a boundary sticky if loops can attach to it, and reflecting otherwise. Using analytic bootstrap methods, we show that reflecting boundaries are characterised by one complex parameter, analogous to the boundary cosmological constant in Liouville theory. We determine disc 1-point functions, and write an explicit formula for disc 2-point functions as infinite combinations of conformal blocks. We also sketch the lattice interpretation of reflecting boundaries.

hep-th↗