Bouncing pre-big bang on the brane

Abstract

A regular bouncing universe is obtained in the context of a dilaton-gravity brane world scenario. The scale factor starts in a contracting inflationary phase both in the Einstein and in the string frame, it then undergoes a bounce (due to interaction with the bulk Weyl tensor), and subsequently enters into a decelerated expanding era. This graceful exit is obtained at low curvature and low coupling, and without violating the Null Energy Condition.