AdS_3 OM theory and the self-dual string or Membranes ending on the Five-brane

TL;DR

The paper investigates Q coincident self-dual strings on a single M5-brane and presents a Maldacena-like near-horizon limit in which the self-dual string region becomes an AdS$_3$ geometry supporting an open membrane (OM) theory. By deriving the M5-brane equations, the self-dual string solution, and an open membrane metric, it shows that the near-horizon OM sector decouples from the asymptotic bulk, with the geometry described by AdS$_3$ x S$_3$ and radii set by $Q^{1/3} \ell_p$; a worldvolume scalar absorption calculation confirms vanishing cross section in the decoupling limit. The work argues for a decoupled AdS$_3$ OM theory as a UV completion of the (2,0) theory in constant 3-form backgrounds and discusses extensions to other open brane configurations, potential 1+1d SCFTs on the string, and caveats related to singularities and gravity. These results illuminate open membrane dynamics and possible holographic dualities for membranes ending on five-branes in M-theory.

Abstract

We describe properties of the M-theory five-brane containing $Q$ coincident self-dual strings on its worldvolume. This is the five-brane description of Q membranes ending on the five-brane. In particular, we consider a Maldacena-like low energy limit in the six-dimensional worldvolume which yields a near `horizon' description of the self-dual string using light open membranes, i.e. OM theory, in an AdS_3 x S^3 geometry.