Essay: The cosmological constant problem in brane-worlds and gravitational Lorentz violations (Q5959873)

In this essay the cosmological constant problem in the context of brane worlds is discussed. Brane worlds are theories with extra spatial dimensions in which ordinary matter is localized on a \((3+1)\) dimensional submanifold. It is shown how extra-dimensional scenarios may violate Lorentz invariance in the gravity sector of the effective 4D theory, while particle physics remains unaffected. In such theories the usual no-go theorems for adjustment of the cosmological constant do not apply, and a possible explanation of the smallness of the cosmological constant is indicated. The Lorentz violating effects would manifest themselves in gravitational waves travelling with a speed different from light, which can be searched for in gravitational wave experiments like LIGO, VIRGO or LISA.