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arXiv · 2003.12372

Surface operators in the 6d $\mathcal{N} = (2,0)$ theory

Nadav Drukker·Malte Probst·Maxime Trépanier
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Abstract

The 6d $\mathcal{N}=(2,0)$ theory has natural surface operator observables, which are akin in many ways to Wilson loops in gauge theories. We propose a definition of a "locally BPS" surface operator and study its conformal anomalies, the analog of the conformal dimension of local operators. We study the abelian theory and the holographic dual of the large $N$ theory refining previously used techniques. Introducing non-constant couplings to the scalar fields allows for an extra anomaly coefficient, which we find in both cases to be related to one of the geometrical anomaly coefficients, suggesting a general relation due to supersymmetry. We also comment on surfaces with conical singularities.

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Nadav Drukker, Malte Probst, Maxime Trépanier. 2020-03-27. Surface operators in the 6d $\mathcal{N} = (2,0)$ theory. https://doi.org/10.1088/1751-8121/aba1b7

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