Conformal anomaly of (2,0) tensor multiplet in six dimensions and AdS/CFT correspondence

We compute the conformal anomaly in the free d = 6 superconformal (2,0) tensor multiplet theory on generic curved background. Up to a trivial covariant total-derivative term, it is given by the sum of the type A part proportional to the 6-d Euler density, and the type B part containing three independent conformal invariants. Multiplied by the factor 4N³, the latter Weyl-invariant part of the anomaly reproduces exactly the corresponding part of the conformal anomaly of large N multiple M5-brane (2,0) theory as predicted (hep-th/9806087) by AdS₇ supergravity on the basis of AdS/CFT correspondence. The coefficients of the type A anomaly differ by the factor (4/7) × 4N³, so that the free tensor multiplet anomaly does not vanish on a Ricci-flat background. The coefficient 4N³ is the same as found (hep-th/9703040) in the comparison of the tensor multiplet theory and the d = 11 supergravity predictions for the absorption cross-sections of gravitons by M5 branes, and in the comparison (hep-th/9911135) of 2- and 3-point stress tensor correlators of the free tensor multiplet with the AdS₇ supergravity predictions.