A problem with δ-functions: stress-energy constraints on bulk-brane matching (with comments on arXiv:1508.01124)

We critically assess a recent assertion [1] concerning using δ-functions to analyze how higher-codimension branes back-react on their environment. We also briefly summarize the state of the art: describing how stress-energy balance dictates the components of off-brane stress energy in terms brane tension; how this can modify the standard tension/defect-angle relation for codimension-two sources when dilatons are present; and how it all relates to extra-dimensional searches for a small cosmological constant.