Superconformal anomalies for string defects in six-dimensional $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = (1, 0) SCFTs

A bstract We study the anomalies of two-dimensional BPS defects in six-dimensional $$ \mathcal{N} $$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mi>N</mml:mi> </mml:math> = (1 , 0) superconformal field theories. Using a holographic description of these defects furnished by probe D4-branes in AdS 7 solutions of ten-dimensional type IIA supergravity, we compute the two independent defect Weyl anomalies from the on-shell action for a spherical defect and defect sphere entanglement entropy. We find agreement between the holographic prediction for the defect A-type anomaly coming from the defect sphere free energy and the leading large N contribution to the defect ’t Hooft anomaly found using anomaly inflow. We also find agreement between the holographic computation of the expectation value of a surface operator wrapping a torus and the supersymmetric localization computation for a circular Wilson loop in $$ \mathcal{N} $$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mi>N</mml:mi> </mml:math> = 1 super Yang-Mills theory on "Image missing". Lastly, we holographically compute the defect gravitational anomaly from the Wess-Zumino action of the probe D4-brane, which provides a subleading large N correction to the defect A-type anomaly.