Brane world linearized cosmic string gravity

The gravitational properties of cosmic strings in the Randall-Sundrum brane world scenario are investigated. Using a gauge in which the brane remains straight, the leading order corrections to the metric on the brane are determined. In contrast to their non-brane equivalents, these strings have an attractive 1/r(2) potential and a radially dependent deficit angle. These two effects alter many cosmological properties of the string, such as the formation of double images. As a result of the attractive force the string will collect matter as it moves through space. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.