Accelerating universe in brane gravity with a confining potential

We construct the Einstein field equations on a 4-dimensional brane embedded in an m-dimensional bulk where the matter fields are confined to the brane by means of a confining potential. As a result, an extra term in the Friedmann equation in a m-dimensional bulk appears that may be interpreted as the X-matter, providing a possible phenomenological explanation for the acceleration of the universe. The study of the relevant observational data suggests good agreement with the predictions of this model. (c) 2006 Published by Elsevier B.V.