Perturbative computation of string one-loop corrections to Wilson loop minimal surfaces in AdS(5) x S-5

We revisit the computation of the 1-loop string correction to the “latitude” minimal surface in AdS 5 × S 5 representing 1/4 BPS Wilson loop in planar N=4 SYM theory previously addressed in arXiv:1512.00841 and arXiv:1601.04708. We resolve the problem of matching with the subleading term in the strong coupling expansion of the exact gauge theory result (derived previously from localization) using a different method to compute determinants of 2d string fluctuation operators. We apply perturbation theory in a small parameter (angle of the latitude) corresponding to an expansion near the AdS 2 minimal surface representing 1/2 BPS circular Wilson loop. This allows us to compute the corrections to the heat kernels and zeta-functions of the operators in terms of the known heat kernels on AdS 2. We apply the same method also to two other examples of Wilson loop surfaces: generalized cusp and k-wound circle

Four loop reciprocity of twist two operators in N=4 SYM

The four loop universal anomalous dimension of twist-2 operators in N=4 SYM has been recently conjectured. In this paper, we prove that it obeys a generalized Gribov-Lipatov reciprocity, previously known to hold at the three loop level.Comment: 15 pages, v3: Appendix A.3 added, main body shortened, version accepted in JHE

Twist-three at five loops, Bethe Ansatz and wrapping

We present a formula for the five-loop anomalous dimension of N=4 SYM twist-three operators in the sl(2) sector. We obtain its asymptotic part from the Bethe Ansatz and finite volume corrections from the generalized Luescher formalism, considering scattering processes of spin chain magnons with virtual particles that travel along the cylinder. The complete result respects the expected large spin scaling properties and passes non-trivial tests including reciprocity constraints. We analyze the pole structure and find agreement with a conjectured resummation formula. In analogy with the twist-two anomalous dimension at four-loops, wrapping effects are of order log^2 M/M^2 for large values of the spin.Comment: 19 page

Generalized quark-antiquark potential at weak and strong coupling

We study a two-parameter family of Wilson loop operators in N=4 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory which interpolates smoothly between the 1/2 BPS line or circle and a pair of antiparallel lines. These observables capture a natural generalization of the quark-antiquark potential. We calculate these loops on the gauge theory side to second order in perturbation theory and in a semiclassical expansion in string theory to one-loop order. The resulting determinants are given in integral form and can be evaluated numerically for general values of the parameters or analytically in a systematic expansion around the 1/2 BPS configuration. We comment about the feasibility of deriving all-loop results for these Wilson loops.Comment: 43 pages: 15 comprising the main text and 25 for detailed appendice

One-loop spectroscopy of semiclassically quantized strings: bosonic sector

We make a further step in the analytically exact quantization of spinning string states in semiclassical approximation, by evaluating the exact one-loop partition function for a class of two-spin string solutions for which quadratic fluctuations form a non-trivial system of coupled modes. This is the case of a folded string in the SU(2) sector, in the limit described by a quantum Landau–Lifshitz model. The same applies to the full bosonic sector of fluctuations over the folded spinning string in AdS5 with an angular momentum J in S5. Fluctuations are governed by a special class of fourth-order differential operators, with coefficients being meromorphic functions on the torus, which we are able to solve exactly

Dynamics with Infinitely Many Time Derivatives in Friedmann-Robertson-Walker Background and Rolling Tachyon

Open string field theory in the level truncation approximation is considered. It is shown that the energy conservation law determines existence of rolling tachyon solution. The coupling of the open string field theory action to a Friedmann-Robertson-Walker metric is considered which leads to a new time dependent rolling tachyon solution is presented and possible cosmological consequences are discussed.Comment: 18 pages, 8 figure

Precision calculation of 1/4-BPS Wilson loops in AdS(5) x S-5

We study the strong coupling behaviour of 1/4-BPS circular Wilson loops (a family of “latitudes”) in N=4 Super Yang-Mills theory, computing the one-loop corrections to the relevant classical string solutions in AdS5 ×S5. Supersymmetric localization provides an exact result that, in the large ’t Hooft coupling limit, should be reproduced by the sigma-model approach. To avoid ambiguities due to the absolute normalization of the string partition function, we compare the ratio between the generic latitude and the maximal 1/2-BPS circle: any measure-related ambiguity should simply cancel in this way. We use the Gel’fand-Yaglom method with Dirichlet boundary conditions to calculate the relevant functional determinants, that present some complications with respect to the standard circular case. After a careful numerical evaluation of our final expression we still find disagreement with the localization answer: the difference is encoded into a precise “remainder function”. We comment on the possible origin and resolution of this discordance

An exact formula for the radiation of a moving quark in N=4 super Yang Mills

We derive an exact formula for the cusp anomalous dimension at small angles. This is done by relating the latter to the computation of certain 1/8 BPS Wilson loops which was performed by supersymmetric localization. This function of the coupling also determines the power emitted by a moving quark in N=4 super Yang Mills, as well as the coefficient of the two point function of the displacement operator on the Wilson loop. By a similar method we compute the near BPS expansion of the generalized cusp anomalous dimension.Comment: 22 pages, 5 figures. v2: references added, typos correcte

The scaling function at strong coupling from the quantum string Bethe equations

We study at strong coupling the scaling function describing the large spin anomalous dimension of twist two operators in ${\cal N}=4$ super Yang-Mills theory. In the spirit of AdS/CFT duality, it is possible to extract it from the string Bethe Ansatz equations in the $\mathfrak{sl}(2)$ sector of the \ads superstring. To this aim, we present a detailed analysis of the Bethe equations by numerical and analytical methods. We recover several short string semiclassical results as a check. In the more difficult case of the long string limit providing the scaling function, we analyze the strong coupling version of the Eden-Staudacher equation, including the Arutyunov-Frolov-Staudacher phase. We prove that it admits a unique solution, at least in perturbation theory, leading to the correct prediction consistent with semiclassical string calculations.Comment: 25 pages, 5 eps figure

A solution to the 4-tachyon off-shell amplitude in cubic string field theory

We derive an analytic series solution of the elliptic equations providing the 4-tachyon off-shell amplitude in cubic string field theory (CSFT). From such a solution we compute the exact coefficient of the quartic effective action relevant for time dependent solutions and we derive the exact coefficient of the quartic tachyon coupling. The rolling tachyon solution expressed as a series of exponentials $e^t$ is studied both using level-truncation computations and the exact 4-tachyon amplitude. The results for the level truncated coefficients are shown to converge to those derived using the exact string amplitude. The agreement with previous work on the subject, both on the quartic tachyon coupling and on the CSFT rolling tachyon, is an excellent test for the accuracy of our off-shell solution.Comment: 26 pages, 5 figure