The brane as a Higgs domain wall: Ideas and issues

Abstract

The most obvious field-theoretic model for a brane is a scalar field domain wall or kink. I discuss how this idea can be connected with spontaneous internal symmetry breaking via a mechanism called the "clash of symmetries". Compatibility with Randall and Sundrum's warped metric alternative to compactification is then demonstrated. I end with brief remarks about open questions. © 2007 American Institute of Physics.