Cosmic p-branes Original Research Article

We consider the metrics for cosmic strings and p-branes in spacetime dimension N > 4, that is, we look for solutions to Einstein-Maxwell-dilaton gravity in N dimensions with boost symmetry in the p-directions along the brane. Focussing first in detail on the five-dimensional uncharged cosmic string, we discuss the solution, which turns out to have a naked singularity on the brane, as well as considering its Kaluza-Klein reduction. We show how singularities may be avoided with particular core models. We then derive the general uncharged p-brane solution in arbitrary dimension. Finally, we consider an Einstein-Maxwell-dilaton action, with arbitrary value of the dilaton coupling parameter, deriving the solutions for electrically and magnetically charged branes, as well as a class of self-dual branes.