Consistent linearized gravity in brane backgrounds

A globally consistent treatment of linearized gravity in the Randall-Sundru m background with matter on the brane is formulated. Using a novel gauge, i n which the transverse components of the metric are non-vanishing, the bran e is kept straight. We analyze the gauge symmetries and identify the physic al degrees of freedom of gravity. Our results underline the necessity for n on-gravitational confinement of matter to the brane. (C) 2000 Elsevier Scie nce B.V. All rights reserved.