Branes, moduli spaces and smooth transition from big crunch to big bang

Abstract

We consider branes N in a Schwarzschild-AdS(n+2) bulk, where the stress-energy tensor is dominated by the energy density of a scalar fields map φ: N → > S with potential V, where S is a semi-Riemannian moduli space. By transforming the field equation appropriately, we get an equivalent field equation that is smooth across the singularity r = 0, and which has smooth and uniquely determined solutions which exist across the singularity in an interval (-ε, ε). Restricting a solution to (-ε, 0) resp. (0, ε), and assuming n odd, we obtain branes N resp. N̂ which together form a smooth hypersurface. Thus a smooth transition from big crunch to big bang is possible both geometrically as well as physically. © 2006 International Press.