Towards an M5-Brane Model I: A 6d Superconformal Field Theory

Abstract

We present an action for a six-dimensional superconformal field theory containing a non-abelian tensor multiplet. All of the ingredients of this action have been available in the literature. We bring these pieces together by choosing the string Lie 2-algebra as a gauge structure, which we motivated in previous work. The kinematical data contains a connection on a categorified principal bundle, which is the appropriate mathematical description of the parallel transport of self-dual strings. Our action can be written down for each of the simply laced Dynkin diagrams, and each case reduces to a four-dimensional supersymmetric Yang--Mills theory with corresponding gauge Lie algebra. Our action also reduces nicely to an M2-brane model which is a deformation of the ABJM model. While this action is certainly not the desired M5-brane model, we regard it as a key stepping stone towards a potential construction of the (2,0)-theory.

1+39 pages, v3: minor improvements, published version

References in corpus (15)

• N=6 superconformal Chern-Simons-matter theories, M2-branes and their gravity duals
• Gauge Symmetry and Supersymmetry of Multiple M2-Branes
• Algebraic structures on parallel M2-branes
• Higher-Dimensional Algebra V: 2-Groups
• M2 to D2
• Supersymmetry enhancement by monopole operators
• Higher Yang-Mills Theory
• A Non-Abelian Self-Dual Gauge Theory in 5+1 Dimensions
• M5-branes and Wilson Surfaces
• New superconformal models in six dimensions: Gauge group and representation structure
• Semistrict Higher Gauge Theory
• M-brane Models from Non-Abelian Gerbes
• Hidden Q-structure and Lie 3-algebra for non-abelian superconformal models in six dimensions
• Aspects of Effective Theory for Multiple M5-Branes Compactified On Circle
• M2-Branes And The (2,0) Superalgebra

Cited by in corpus (29)

• $L_{\infty }$-Algebras of Classical Field Theories and the Batalin-Vilkovisky Formalism
• Twisted Cohomotopy implies twisted String structure on M5-branes
• Towards an M5-Brane Model II: Metric String Structures
• Super-exceptional embedding construction of the heterotic M5: Emergence of SU(2)-flavor sector
• Super-exceptional geometry: origin of heterotic M-theory and super-exceptional embedding construction of M5
• Quantum Thermodynamics of an M2-M5 Brane System
• Adjusted Parallel Transport for Higher Gauge Theories
• 5d and 6d SCFTs Have No Weak Coupling Limit
• Self-dual 6d 2-form fields coupled to non-abelian gauge field: quantum corrections
• Global Double Field Theory is Higher Kaluza-Klein Theory
• Flux Quantization on M5-branes
• Two-dimensional algebra in lattice gauge theory
• Towards an M5-Brane Model III: Self-Duality from Additional Trivial Fields
• Higher Gauge Theory
• Supersymmetrizing the Pasti-Sorokin-Tonin action
• Manifestly Covariant Polynomial M5-brane Lagrangians
• On Radically Expanding the Landscape of Potential Applications for Automated Proof Methods
• Giant graviton interactions and M2-branes ending on multiple M5-branes
• Massless chiral fields in six dimensions
• Topological actions via gauge variations of higher structures
• Towards a tensionless string field theory for the N=(2,0) CFT in d=6
• Higher Structures, Self-Dual Strings and 6d Superconformal Field Theories
• Dual Conformal Symmetry and Iterative Integrals in Six Dimensions
• Explicit Non-Abelian Gerbes with Connections
• Twisted Weil Algebras for the String Lie 2-Algebra
• Dual infrared limits of 6d $\mathcal{N}$=(2,0) theory
• Extended Field Theories as higher Kaluza-Klein theories
• Adjusting Higher Chern-Simons Theory
• $E_2{L}_{\infty }$-algebras, Generalized Geometry, and Tensor Hierarchies