Perturbative F-theory 10-brane and M-theory 5-brane

Abstract The exceptional symmetry is realized perturbatively in F-theory which is the manifest U-duality theory. The SO(5) U-duality symmetry acts on both the 16 space-time coordinates and the 10 worldvolume coordinates. Closure of the Virasoro algebra requires the Gauss law constraints on the worldvolume. This set of current algebras describes a F-theory 10-brane. The SO(5) duality symmetry is enlarged to the SO(6) symmetry in the Lagrangian formulation. We propose actions of the F-theory 10-brane with SO(5) and SO(6) symmetries. The gauge fields of the latter action are coset elements of SO(6)/SO(6; ℂ) which include both the SO(5)/SO(5; ℂ) spacetime backgrounds and the worldvolume backgrounds. The SO(5) current algebra obtained from the Pasti-Sorokin-Tonin M5-brane Lagrangian leads to the theory behind M-theory, namely F-theory. We also propose an action of the perturbative M-theory 5-brane obtained by sectioning the worldvolume of the F-theory 10-brane.