Dimensions of five-dimensional Newton's constant

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the dimensions of five-dimensional Newton's constant in the context of a space with an extra compact spatial dimension. Participants explore theoretical implications and mathematical formulations related to the action in five-dimensional gravity.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant inquires about the dimensions of five-dimensional Newton's constant, G_N^{(5)}, within a specific metric and action framework.
  • Another participant suggests comparing the inquiry to a specific equation in a referenced thesis, indicating that the dimensions can be derived from the 4+n dimensional Planck mass.
  • A different viewpoint is presented, arguing that the Riemann tensor's nature may not support the idea of Newton's constant depending on the number of dimensions, proposing instead to consider powers of constants for dimensionality.
  • Another participant states that the Ricci scalar has a mass dimension of 2 for any spacetime dimension and provides a relationship between Newton's constant and the n-dimensional Planck mass, suggesting G_N^{(n)} has mass dimension 2-n.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the relationship between Newton's constant and the dimensionality of spacetime, with no consensus reached on the implications of these relationships.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference specific mathematical formulations and dimensions but do not resolve the implications of these formulations or the assumptions underlying their arguments.

papades
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Hello,
I have a question, please let me have your answer, if possible:
In a space with an extra spatial dimension , where the extra coordinate is compact:
0 \le y \le 2\pi \alpha
And the metric of the space is:
{G_M}_N = \left( {\begin{array}{*{20}{c}}<br /> {{g_\mu }_\nu (x)} &amp; {{A_\mu }(x)} \\<br /> {{A_\mu }(x)} &amp; {\varphi (x)} \\<br /> \end{array}} \right)

In the action:S = \frac{1}{{8\pi G_N^{(5)}}}\int {{d^5}x\;\sqrt { - G} \;R}

Which are the dimensions of
G_N^{(5)}
, that is five-dimensional Newton’s constant?
Many thanks in advance.
 
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Compare your definition to eq. 2.132 here:

http://folk.uio.no/olavau/thesis.pdf

which gives the Einstein-Hilbert action for 4+n dimensional gravity. The prefactor is the 4+n dimensional Planck mass. You'll be able to find the dimension of your 5-dimensional gravitational constant given in units of mass, where c=hbar=1.
 
Hmm, the Riemann tensor is esentially a bidimensional object, a set of surface intersections so to say, independently of the number of dimensions of the space time. So in principle it does not sound as a good idea to think of Newton's constant depending of the number of dimensions, it could have more sense to put powers of this constant (and c, when needed) to get the exact dimensionality in each case. But perhaps I have done the same mistake in some of my letters, so I am not to launch the first stone.
 
The Ricci scalar has mass dimension 2 for any dimension of spacetime. The Newton constant is defined by the power law at large distances, from which its mass dimension can be determined, or as well as by demanding that the action has mass dimension zero. Therefore, in n dimensions, the Newton constant has mass dimension 2-n and is related to the n-dimensional Planck mass by

G_N^{(n)} \sim \left( M_P^{(n)} \right)^{2-n}.
 
-3 :smile:
 

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