Coupling a Self-Dual Tensor to Gravity in Six Dimensions

TL;DR

This paper extends the theory of self-dual tensor gauge fields in six dimensions to include gravitational coupling, aiding in the formulation of M theory five-brane actions.

Contribution

It introduces a formalism that couples self-dual tensors to gravity, making five coordinate invariances manifest and analyzing the sixth.

Findings

Five invariances are manifest in the formalism

The sixth invariance requires detailed analysis

Potential application to M theory five-brane

Abstract

A recent result concerning interacting theories of self-dual tensor gauge fields in six dimensions is generalized to include coupling to gravity. The formalism makes five of the six general coordinate invariances manifest, whereas the sixth one requires a non-trivial analysis. The result should be helpful in formulating the world-volume action of the M theory five-brane.