  We investigate a simple model of a stack of four dimensional cosmological
branes in a five dimensional flat bulk via the use of a derived low-energy
effective Hamiltonian for a `radion'-like field associated with brane
displacements and deformations. We also extend by analogy the theory of 3D
smectic liquid crystals and multi-lamellar amphiphilic membranes, as are
typically found in soft condensed matter systems, to the 5D case of many
parallel brane universes. The underlying rotational invariance of such a system
implies the absence of an explicit intra-brane cosmological constant term in
the low-energy effective Hamiltonian. The strength of a quadratic inter-brane
potential introduced for stabilisation is calculated self-consistently, and
leads naturally to a novel exponential suppression mechanism for the 4D
intra-brane cosmological constant. We also pursue, again by analogy to the 3D
case, the link between this work and the Abelian Higgs transition, or
superconductivity, in 5D. The relevance of the work presented here in
explicating the cosmological constant problem is also highlighted, outlined and
discussed.
