On higher-dimensional dynamics

• Published in: Journal of mathematical physics 2002-05, Vol.43 (5), p.2423-2438
• Main Author: Wesson, Paul S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0022-2488; 1089-7658
• DOI: 10.1063/1.1462418

Technical results are presented on motion in N(>4) D manifolds to clarify the physics of brane theory, Kaluza–Klein theory, induced-matter theory, and string theory. The so-called canonical or warp metric in five dimensions (5D) effectively converts the manifold from a coordinate space to a momentum space, resulting in a new force (per unit mass) parallel to the four-dimensional (4D) velocity. The form of this extra force is actually independent of the form of the metric, but for an unbound particle is tiny because it is set by the energy density of the vacuum or cosmological constant. It can be related to a small change in the rest mass of a particle, and can be evaluated in two convenient gauges relevant to gravitational and quantum systems. In the quantum gauge, the extra force leads to Heisenberg’s relation between increments in the position and momenta. If the 4D action is quantized then so is the higher-dimensional part, implying that particle mass is quantized, though only at a level of 10 −65   g or less, which is unobservably small. It is noted that massive particles which move on timeline paths in 4D can move on null paths in 5D. This agrees with the view from inflationary quantum field theory, that particles acquire mass dynamically in 4D but are intrinsically massless. A general prescription for dynamics is outlined, wherein particles move on null paths in an N(>4) D manifold which may be flat, but have masses set by an embedded 4D manifold which is curved.