M-5-BRANE AND SUPERCONFORMAL (0,2) TENSOR MULTIPLET IN 6 DIMENSIONS

We present a gauge-fixed M 5-brane action: a 6-dimensional field theor y of a self-interacting (0,2) tensor multiplet with 32 world-volume su persymmetries. The quadratic pan of this action is shown to be invaria nt under rigid OSp(6, 2/4) superconformal symmetry, with 16 supersymme tries and 16 special supersymmetries. We explore a deep relation betwe en the superconformal symmetry on the world-volume of the brane and th e symmetry of the near horizon anti-de Sitter infinite throat geometry of the M 5-brane in space-time. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.