The singularity problem in brane cosmology

Abstract

We review results about the development and asymptotic nature of singularities in `brane-bulk' systems. These arise for warped metrics obeying the 5-dimensional Einstein equations with fluid-like sources, and including a brane 4-metric that is either Minkowski or de Sitter or Anti-de Sitter. We characterize all singular Minkowski brane solutions, and look for regular solutions with nonzero curvature. We briefly comment on matching solutions, energy conditions and finite Planck mass criteria for admissibility, and we briefly discuss the connection of these results to ambient theory.