The structure of divergences in the higher-derivative supersymmetric $6D$ gauge theory

Using the harmonic superspace approach, we perform a comprehensive study of the structure of divergences in the higher-derivative $6D$, ${\cal N}=(1,0)$ supersymmetric Yang--Mills theory coupled to the hypermultiplet in the adjoint representation. The effective action is constructed in the framework of the superfield background field method with the help of ${\cal N}=(1,0)$ supersymmetric higher-derivative regularization scheme which preserves all symmetries of the theory. The one-loop divergences are calculated in a manifestly gauge invariant and $6D$, ${\cal N}=(1,0)$ supersymmetric form hopefully admitting a generalization to higher loops. The $β$-function in the one-loop approximation is found and analyzed. In particular, it is shown that the one-loop $β$-function for an arbitrary regulator function is specified by integrals of double total derivatives in momentum space, like it happens in $4D,\, {\cal N}=1$ superfield gauge theories. This points to the potential possibility to derive the all-loop NSVZ-like exact $β$-function in the considered theory.