In theoretical physics, branes or p-branes are spatially extended objects that appear in string theory and its relatives (M-theory and brane cosmology). The variable p refers to the dimension of the brane. That is, a 0-brane is a zero-dimensional particle, a 1-brane is a string, a 2-brane is a "membrane", etc. Every p-brane sweeps out a (p+1)-dimensional world-volume as it propagates through spacetime.
Originally string theory was a theory of 1-branes called strings. By the mid-1990s it became apparent that the theory could be extended to also include higher dimensional objects. Typically these objects are non-perturbative features of the theory (meaning they do not appear in perturbation theory) which is partially why early string theorists were unaware of them.
Besides the fundamental string (or F-string) of string theory and its magnetic dual, the NS5-brane, the most important type of branes that appear are the D-branes. Different types of D-branes appear in different theories. Even Dp-branes for p appear in type IIA string theory where as the odd Dp-branes appear in type IIB string theory.
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2001: A Spacetime Odyssey - A lecture on colliding branes and the origin of the hot big bang by Paul Steinhardt
A Cyclic Universe - An article from Sky Telescope on the ekpyrotic universe model.
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A Recycled Universe - A scientific american article on the brane-world models of the Universe
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A Workshop on the Ekpyrotic Universe - The purpose of this workshop will be to offer the opportunity to discuss issues such as the connection with M-theory and cosmological perturbations in the ekpyrotic scenario.
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An Invisible Dimension - Extra spatial dimensions--beyond the three we know--might exist, while being invisible to most experiments.
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Brane Cosmology - The aim of these lectures is to give a brief introduction to brane cosmology
Brane-Storm Challenges Big Bang Theory - A popular physics explanation of the ekpyrotic model of universe creation
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Branes for Relativists - The purpose of this manuscript is to provide a pedagogical account of the brane technology so that the relativists can use branes in their study.
Cosmology in a Brane Universe - This lecture presents the cosmological models with extra dimensions that have been recently elaborated, which assume that ordinary matter is confined on a surface, called brane, embedded in a higher dimensional spacetime.
Searching for Extra Dimensions - A one page article on the search for evidence of higher dimensions.
The Cyclic Universe - An informal introduction to the models of the universe which use higher dimension branes.
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