Topology in the Bulk: Gauge Field Solitons in Extra Dimensions

Abstract

Certain static soliton configurations of gauge fields in 4+1 dimensions correspond to the instanton in 4-Euclidean dimensions ``turned on its side,'' becoming a monopole in 4+1. The periodic instanton solution can be used with the method of images to construct solutions satisfying D-brane boundary conditions. The $\theta$-term on the brane becomes a topological current source, yielding an emission amplitude for monopoles into the bulk. Instantons have a novel reinterpretation in terms of monopole exchange between branes.

Comments: 23 pages, 4 figures