Radion

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Radion, not to be confused with the element radon, is a scalar field in quantum field theory in spacetimes with additional dimensions. It can be interpreted as the length or size of the fifth dimension as a function of the usual four dimensions of spacetime.

See also dilaton, Kaluza-Klein theory, Randall-Sundrum models.

As a quantum field, the radion field has localized quantum excitations (i.e. particles) which is called the radion particle. Its mass depends upon the specific model in question. There are many mechanisms to give masses to the radion (which can be stated equivalently as stabilizing the radius of the extra dimension).

See, for example, Goldberger-Wise mechanism.

Radion is also a Russian name.