The Strong Coupling Limit of the Scaling Function from the Quantum String Bethe Ansatz

Using the quantum string Bethe ansatz we derive the one-loop energy of a folded string rotating with angular momenta (S,J) in AdS_3 x S^1 inside AdS_5 x S^5 in the limit 1 << J << S, z=\lambda^(1/2) log(S/J) /(\pi J) fixed. The one-loop energy is a sum of two contributions, one originating from the Hernandez-Lopez phase and another one being due to spin chain finite size effects. We find a result which at the functional level exactly matches the result of a string theory computation. Expanding the result for large z we obtain the strong coupling limit of the scaling function for low twist, high spin operators of the SL(2) sector of N=4 SYM. In particular we recover the famous -3 log(2)/\pi. Its appearance is a result of non-trivial cancellations between the finite size effects and the Hernandez-Lopez correction.Comment: 18 pages, one figure, v2: footnote changed, v3: reference added, typo correcte

Integrable 2D Lorentzian Gravity and Random Walks

We introduce and solve a family of discrete models of 2D Lorentzian gravity with higher curvature, which possess mutually commuting transfer matrices, and whose spectral parameter interpolates between flat and curved space-times. We further establish a one-to-one correspondence between Lorentzian triangulations and directed Random Walks. This gives a simple explanation why the Lorentzian triangulations have fractal dimension 2 and why the curvature model lies in the universality class of pure Lorentzian gravity. We also study integrable generalizations of the curvature model with arbitrary polygonal tiles. All of them are found to lie in the same universality class

A Possible IIB Superstring Matrix Model with Euler Characteristic and a Double Scaling Limit

We show that a recently proposed Yang-Mills matrix model with an auxiliary field, which is a candidate for a non-perturbative description of type IIB superstrings, captures the Euler characteristic of moduli space of Riemann surfaces. This happens at the saddle point for the Yang-Mills field. It turns out that the large-n limit in this matrix model corresponds to a double scaling limit in the Penner model.Comment: 5 pages, LaTe

Expansion in Feynman Graphs as Simplicial String Theory

We show that the series expansion of quantum field theory in the Feynman diagrams can be explicitly mapped on the partition function of the simplicial string theory -- the theory describing embeddings of the two--dimensional simplicial complexes into the space--time of the field theory. The summation over two--dimensional geometries in this theory is obtained from the summation over the Feynman diagrams and the integration over the Schwinger parameters of the propagators. We discuss the meaning of the obtained relation and derive the one--dimensional analog of the simplicial theory on the example of the free relativistic particle.Comment: Latex, 11pp, Minor mintakes are correcte

On the spectral problem of N=4 SYM with orthogonal or symplectic gauge group

We study the spectral problem of N=4 SYM with gauge group SO(N) and Sp(N). At the planar level, the difference to the case of gauge group SU(N) is only due to certain states being projected out, however at the non-planar level novel effects appear: While 1/N-corrections in the SU(N) case are always associated with splitting and joining of spin chains, this is not so for SO(N) and Sp(N). Here the leading 1/N-corrections, which are due to non-orientable Feynman diagrams in the field theory, originate from a term in the dilatation operator which acts inside a single spin chain. This makes it possible to test for integrability of the leading 1/N-corrections by standard (Bethe ansatz) means and we carry out various such tests. For orthogonal and symplectic gauge group the dual string theory lives on the orientifold AdS5xRP5. We discuss various issues related to semi-classical strings on this background.Comment: 25 pages, 3 figures. v2: Minor clarifications, section 5 expande

Fully Packed O(n=1) Model on Random Eulerian Triangulations

We introduce a matrix model describing the fully-packed O(n) model on random Eulerian triangulations (i.e. triangulations with all vertices of even valency). For n=1 the model is mapped onto a particular gravitational 6-vertex model with central charge c=1, hence displaying the expected shift c -> c+1 when going from ordinary random triangulations to Eulerian ones. The case of arbitrary n is also discussed.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures, tex, harvmac, eps

Quasilocality of joining/splitting strings from coherent states

Using the coherent state formalism we calculate matrix elements of the one-loop non-planar dilatation operator of ${\cal N}=4$ SYM between operators dual to folded Frolov-Tseytlin strings and observe a curious scaling behavior. We comment on the {\it qualitative} similarity of our matrix elements to the interaction vertex of a string field theory. In addition, we present a solvable toy model for string splitting and joining. The scaling behaviour of the matrix elements suggests that the contribution to the genus one energy shift coming from semi-classical string splitting and joining is small.Comment: 17 pages, 7 figures in 11 file

Splitting of Folded Strings in AdS_4*CP^3

We study classically splitting of two kinds of folded string solutions in AdS_4*CP^3. Conserved charges of the produced fragments are computed for each case. We find interesting patterns among these conserved charges.Comment: minor changes, 14 pages, no figure

Beyond the Planar Limit in ABJM

In this article we consider gauge theories with a U(N)X U(N) gauge group. We provide, for the first time, a complete set of operators built from scalar fields that are in the bi fundamental of the two groups. Our operators diagonalize the two point function of the free field theory at all orders in 1/N. We then use this basis to investigate non-planar anomalous dimensions in the ABJM theory. We show that the dilatation operator reduces to a set of decoupled harmonic oscillators, signaling integrability in a nonplanar large N limit.Comment: v2: minor revisison