Jacobi equations of geodetic brane gravity

Abstract: We consider brane gravity as described by the Regge-Teitelboim geometric model, in any codimension. In brane gravity our spacetime is modeled as the time-like world volume spanned by a space-like brane in its evolution, seen as a manifold embedded in an ambient background Minkowski spacetime of higher dimension. Although the equations of motion of the model are well known, apparently their linearization has not been considered before. Using a direct approach, we linearize the equations of motion about a solution, obtaining the Jacobi equations of the Regge- Teitelboim model. They take a formidable aspect. Some of their features are commented upon. By identifying the Jacobi equations, we derive an explicit expression for the Morse index of the model. To be concrete, we apply the Jacobi equations to the study of the stability of a four-dimensional Schwarzschild spacetime embedded in a six-dimensional Minkowski spacetime. We find that it is unstable under small linear deformations.