6d (2, 0) Theory and M5 Branes: A KK Mode Approach

Abstract

6d (2, 0) theory on M5 branes is investigated by considering its KK modes on a 2d space. Selecting KK modes on different 2d spaces amounts to choosing different set of selfdual strings as the perturbative degrees of freedom thus will give the 6d theories related to each other by U-duality. The 4d effective theory for the KK modes is studied via the M5-D3 duality. Except for the (p, q) open strings, which is the KK mode arising from the selfdual strings, the 3-string junction should also be added since it is the bound state of the (p, q) open strings. The quantization of the 3-string junctions gives the fields, which, when lifted to 6d, may account for the conformal anomaly of the 6d (2, 0) theory. The interaction between the open strings and the 3-string junctions is also considered. The Lagrangian and the corresponding N=4 supersymmetry transformation is obtained up to some additional terms to be added. Although the original 6d (2, 0) theory is not constructed directly, the 4d effective theory for the KK modes gives an equivalent description, from which the 6d S-matrix can be calculated.