Experimental hints of Gravity in Large Extra Dimensions?
arXiv:astro-ph/0107169 · doi:10.1142/S0218271801001566
Abstract
Recent conjectures suggest the universe may have large extra dimensions, through which gravity propagates. This implies gross departures from Newton's law of gravity at small length scales. Here I consider some implications for particle dynamics on scales comparable to the compactification radius, $R_c \ltorder 1$ mm. During planet formation, coalescence of micron sized dust grains to planetesimals is a rate critical step. Blum et al (2000) found dust grain aggregates form low fractal dimension structures in microgravity, consistent with high angular momentum coalescence. I consider the effects of non-Newtonian gravity on dust aggregation on scales less than and show they naturally coalesce into low dimensional structures with high specific angular momentum. We infer microns.
5 pages, revtex, Int. Jour. Mod. Phys. D (Special issue of GRF essays 2001), single spaced version