Tubular branes in fluxbranes Original Research Article

We describe the construction of new configurations of self-gravitating p-branes with worldvolume geometries of the form R1,p−s×Ss, with 1⩽s⩽p, i.e., tubular branes. Since such branes are typically unstable against collapse of the sphere, they must be held in equilibrium by a fluxbrane. We present solutions for string loops with non-singular horizons, as well as M5-branes intersecting over such loops. We also construct tubular branes which carry in their worldvolume a dissolved, lower-dimensional brane (as in the dielectric effect), or an F-string. However, the connection between these solutions and related configurations that have been studied earlier in the absence of brane self-gravity, is unclear. It is argued that, at least in some instances, the self-gravitating solutions do not appear to be able to reproduce stable configurations of tubular branes.