Vacuum Stability in Kaluza-Klein Geometric Sigma Models

In Kaluza-Klein geometric sigma models, the scalar fields coupled to higher-dimensional gravity are pure gauge. The gauge fixed theory contains no matter fields, and can consistently be reduced to 4 dimensions, provided the internal space is chosen in the form of a group manifold. The effective 4-dimensional theory includes standard Einstein and Yang-Mills sectors, and is free of the classical cosmological constant problem. In this paper, the stability of the internal excitations is analyzed. It is shown that the initial Lagrangian can be modified to lead to a classically stable effective 4-dimensional theory, independently of the particular group used, and retaining all the basic features of the unmodified theory.