Deconstruction and surface defects in 6d CFTs

Abstract

We study the two families of AdS$_3\times S^3\times S^2\times \Sigma_2$ solutions to massive Type IIA supergravity with small and large $(0,4)$ supersymmetries constructed recently in the literature, in connection with the AdS$_7\times S^2\times I$ solutions to massive Type IIA, to which they asymptote locally. Based on our analysis of various observables, that we study holographically, we propose an interpretation of the first class of solutions as dual to deconstructed 6d (1,0) CFTs dual to AdS$_7$, and of the second class as dual to surface defects in the same 6d theories. Among the observables that we study are baryon vertices and giant graviton configurations in quiver-like constructions.