We investigate the properties of scalar fields arising from gravity
propagating in extra dimensions. In the scenario of large extra dimensions,
proposed by Arkani-Hamed, Dimopoulos and Dvali, graviscalar Kaluza-Klein
excitations are less important than the spin-2 counterparts in most processes.
However, there are important exceptions. The Higgs boson can mix to these
particles by coupling to the Ricci scalar. Because of the large number of
states involved, this mixing leads, in practice, to a sizeable invisible width
for the Higgs. In the Randall-Sundrum scenario, the only graviscalar is the
radion. It can be produced copiously at hadron colliders by virtue of its
enhanced coupling to two gluons through the trace anomaly of QCD. We study both
the production and decay of the radion, and compare it to the Standard Model
Higgs boson. Furthermore, we find that radion detectability depends crucially
on the curvature-Higgs boson mixing parameter.Comment: 34 pages, late