Branes and Dark Energy

[lawman]

Could dark energy be particles leaking off other branes?

[ajb]

Could dark energy be particles leaking off other branes?

 

In string theory particles are really not particles but strings. Different vibrational modes correspond to different particle states.

 

Now, branes are where open strings can start and end. To such strings we can associate gauge theories of Yang-Mills type, that this the forces of electoweak and strong. Closed strings, which are not attached to branes can move freely. To these strings gravitons can be associated.

 

So, the "usual" particle content of our universe would be contained to live on our "brane world". Gravitons are not so constrained.

 

Your questions is quite generic and so all I can say is that I am not aware of any description of dark energy as particles leaking off into the bulk.

 

However, the closest I know of is something like a gravitational interaction between brane worlds. Like I said, this could be possible as gravity can act in the bulk.