Boundary Localized Symmetry Breaking and Topological Defects – Matthew Martin

Date: Fri. May 6th, 2005, 11:30 am-12:30 pm
Location: Rockefeller 221

I discuss the structure of topological defects in the context of recent extra dimensional models where the symmetry breaking terms are localized. These defects develop structure in the extra dimension which differs from the case where symmetry breaking is not localized. This new structure can lead to corrections to the mass scale of the defects which is not captured by the effective theory obtained by integrating out the extra dimension. I also consider the Higgsless model of symmetry breaking and show that no finite energydefects appear in some situations where they might have been expected.