  We prove that a formula for the `pluricanonical' double ramification cycle
proposed by Janda, Pandharipande, Pixton, Zvonkine, and the second-named author
is in fact the class of a cycle constructed geometrically by the first-named
author. Our proof proceeds by a detailed explicit analysis of the deformation
theory of the double ramification cycle, both to first and to higher order.
