On the Scattering Phase for AdS_5 x S^5 Strings

We propose a phase factor of the worldsheet S-matrix for strings on AdS_5 x S^5 apparently solving Janik's crossing relation.Comment: 9 pages, v2: revised conclusions about agreement with perturbative string theory; minor changes, v3: resolution to above problems indicated, to appear in Mod. Phys. Lett.

On highest-energy state in the su(1|1) sector of N=4 super Yang-Mills theory

We consider the highest-energy state in the su(1|1) sector of N=4 super Yang-Mills theory containing operators of the form tr(Z^{L-M} \psi^M) where Z is a complex scalar and \psi is a component of gaugino. We show that this state corresponds to the operator tr(\psi^L) and can be viewed as an analogue of the antiferromagnetic state in the su(2) sector. We find perturbative expansions of the energy of this state in both weak and strong 't Hooft coupling regimes using asymptotic gauge theory Bethe ansatz equations. We also discuss a possible analog of this state in the conjectured string Bethe ansatz equations.Comment: 23 pages, Late

Integrability and Transcendentality

We derive the two-loop Bethe ansatz for the sl(2) twist operator sector of N=4 gauge theory directly from the field theory. We then analyze a recently proposed perturbative asymptotic all-loop Bethe ansatz in the limit of large spacetime spin at large but finite twist, and find a novel all-loop scaling function. This function obeys the Kotikov-Lipatov transcendentality principle and does not depend on the twist. Under the assumption that one may extrapolate back to leading twist, our result yields an all-loop prediction for the large-spin anomalous dimensions of twist-two operators. The latter also appears as an undetermined function in a recent conjecture of Bern, Dixon and Smirnov for the all-loop structure of the maximally helicity violating (MHV) n-point gluon amplitudes of N=4 gauge theory. This potentially establishes a direct link between the worldsheet and the spacetime S-matrix approach. A further assumption for the validity of our prediction is that perturbative BMN (Berenstein-Maldacena-Nastase) scaling does not break down at four loops, or beyond. We also discuss how the result gets modified if BMN scaling does break down. Finally, we show that our result qualitatively agrees at strong coupling with a prediction of string theory.Comment: 45 pages LaTeX, 3 postscript figures. v2: Chapter on BMN scaling and transcendentality added. v3: version accepted for publication in JSTA

A Generalized Scaling Function for AdS/CFT

We study a refined large spin limit for twist operators in the sl(2) sector of AdS/CFT. We derive a novel non-perturbative equation for the generalized two-parameter scaling function associated to this limit, and analyze it at weak coupling. It is expected to smoothly interpolate between weakly coupled gauge theory and string theory at strong coupling.Comment: 27 pages, no figures; v2: references added and typos fixe

Matching Higher Conserved Charges for Strings and Spins

We demonstrate that the recently found agreement between one-loop scaling dimensions of large dimension operators in N=4 gauge theory and energies of spinning strings on AdS_5 x S^5 extends to the eigenvalues of an infinite number of hidden higher commuting charges. This dynamical agreement is of a mathematically highly intricate and non-trivial nature. In particular, on the gauge side the generating function for the commuting charges is obtained by integrable quantum spin chain techniques from the thermodynamic density distribution function of Bethe roots. On the string side the generating function, containing information to arbitrary loop order, is constructed by solving exactly the Backlund equations of the integrable classical string sigma model. Our finding should be an important step towards matching the integrable structures on the string and gauge side of the AdS/CFT correspondence.Comment: Latex, 33 pages, v2: new section added (completing the analytic proof that the entire infinite towers of commuting gauge and string charges match); references adde

Open Spin Chains in Super Yang-Mills at Higher Loops: Some Potential Problems with Integrability

The super Yang-Mills duals of open strings attached to maximal giant gravitons are studied in perturbation theory. It is shown that non-BPS baryonic excitations of the gauge theory can be studied within the paradigm of open quantum spin chains even beyond the leading order in perturbation theory. The open spin chain describing the two loop mixing of non-BPS giant gravitons charged under an su(2) of the so(6) R symmetry group is explicitly constructed. It is also shown that although the corresponding open spin chain is integrable at the one loop order, there is a potential breakdown of integrability at two and higher loops. The study of integrability is performed using coordinate Bethe ansatz techniques.Comment: 28 pages. References added in revised versio

Quantum corrections to the string Bethe ansatz

One-loop corrections to the energy of semiclassical rotating strings contain both analytic and non-analytic terms in the 't Hooft coupling. Analytic contributions agree with the prediction from the string Bethe ansatz based on the classical S-matrix, but in order to include non-analytic contributions quantum corrections are required. We find a general expression for the first quantum correction to the string Bethe ansatz.Comment: 12 pages. Latex. v2: Misprints corrected and references adde

New Integrable System of 2dim Fermions from Strings on AdS_5 x S^5

We consider classical superstrings propagating on AdS_5 x S^5 space-time. We consistently truncate the superstring equations of motion to the so-called su(1|1) sector. By fixing the uniform gauge we show that physical excitations in this sector are described by two complex fermionic degrees of freedom and we obtain the corresponding Lagrangian. Remarkably, this Lagrangian can be cast in a two-dimensional Lorentz-invariant form. The kinetic part of the Lagrangian induces a non-trivial Poisson structure while the Hamiltonian is just the one of the massive Dirac fermion. We find a change of variables which brings the Poisson structure to the canonical form but makes the Hamiltonian nontrivial. The Hamiltonian is derived as an exact function of two parameters: the total S^5 angular momentum J and string tension \lambda; it is a polynomial in 1/J and in \sqrt{\lambda'} where \lambda'=\frac{\lambda}{J^2} is the effective BMN coupling. We identify the string states dual to the gauge theory operators from the closed su(1|1) sector of N=4 SYM and show that the corresponding near-plane wave energy shift computed from our Hamiltonian perfectly agrees with that recently found in the literature. Finally we show that the Hamiltonian is integrable by explicitly constructing the corresponding Lax representation.Comment: 35 pages;v2:typos corrected, references adde

Higher Loop Bethe Ansatz for Open Spin-Chains in AdS/CFT

We propose a perturbative asymptotic Bethe ansatz (PABA) for open spin-chain systems whose Hamiltonians are given by matrices of anomalous dimension for composite operators, and apply it to two types of composite operators related to two different brane configurations. One is an AdS_4 \times S^2-brane in the bulk AdS_5 \times S^5 which gives rise to a defect conformal field theory (dCFT) in the dual field theory, and the other is a giant graviton system with an open string excitation. In both cases, excitations on open strings attaching to D-branes (a D5-brane for the dCFT case, and a spherical D3-brane for the giant graviton case) can be represented by magnon states in the spin-chains with appropriate boundary conditions, in which informations of the D-branes are encoded. We concentrate on single-magnon problems, and explain how to calculate boundary S-matrices via the PABA technique. We also discuss the energy spectrum in the BMN limit.Comment: 1+24 pages, 1 figure, typos corrected, references added, discussions on the integrability for giant gravitons modified, version to appear in JHE