Brane factories

We compute the cross section for p-brane creation by super-Planckian scattering processes in a (n+4)-dimensional spacetime with n-m flat large extra dimensions and m flat small dimensions of size of the fundamental gravitational scale. We find that the cross section for the formation of a brane with dimension $1\le p\le m$, completely wrapped on the small dimensions, is larger than the cross section for the creation of a spherically symmetric black hole. Therefore, in spacetimes with asymmetric compactifications we predict that branes are more likely to be created in super-Planckian scattering processes than black holes. The higher rate of p-brane production significantly enhances possible detection of non-perturbative gravitational events by future hadron colliders and cosmic rays detectors.