Stringent Neutron-Star Limits on Large Extra Dimensions
Abstract
Supernovae (SNe) are copious sources for Kaluza-Klein (KK) gravitons which are generic for theories with large extra dimensions. These massive particles are produced with average velocities ~=0.5c so that many of them are gravitationally retained by the SN core. Every neutron star thus has a halo of KK gravitons which decay into νν¯, e+e-, and γγ on time scales ~=109 years. The EGRET γ-flux limits ( Eγ~=100 MeV) for nearby neutron stars constrain the compactification scale for n = 2 extra dimensions to M>~500 TeV, and M>~30 TeV for n = 3. The requirement that neutron stars are not excessively heated by KK decays implies M>~1700 TeV for n = 2, and M>~60 TeV for n = 3.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review Letters
- Pub Date:
- February 2002
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevLett.88.071301
- arXiv:
- arXiv:hep-ph/0110067
- Bibcode:
- 2002PhRvL..88g1301H
- Keywords:
-
- High Energy Physics - Phenomenology;
- Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- Minor changes, matches version to appear in PRL