Bethe Ansatz for a Quantum Supercoset Sigma Model

We study an integrable conformal OSp(2m + 2|2m) supercoset model as an analog to the AdS_5 X S^5 superstring world-sheet theory. Using the known S-matrix for this system, we obtain integral equations for states of large particle density in an SU(2) sector, which are exact in the sigma model coupling constant. As a check, we derive as a limit the general classical Bethe equation of Kazakov, Marshakov, Minahan, and Zarembo. There are two distinct quantum expansions around the well-studied classical limit, the lambda^{-1/2} effects and the 1/J effects. Our approach captures the first type, but not the second.Comment: 30 pages, 1 figure, v2: references adde

AdS/CFT duality at strong coupling

We study the strong coupling limit of AdS/CFT correspondence in the framework of a recently proposed fermionic formulation of the Bethe Ansatz equations governing the gauge theory anomalous dimensions. We provide examples of states that do not follow the Gubser-Klebanov-Polyakov law at large 't Hooft coupling $\lambda$, in contrast with recent results on the quantum string Bethe equations valid in that regime. This result indicates that the fermionic construction cannot be trusted at large $\lambda$, although it remains an efficient tool to compute the weak coupling expansion of anomalous dimensions.Comment: Presented at Nonlinear Physics. Theory and Experiment. IV Gallipoli, June 22 - July 1, 2006. To appear in the proceeding

On string solutions of Bethe equations in N=4 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory

The Bethe equations, arising in description of the spectrum of the dilatation operator for the su(2) sector of the N=4 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory, are considered in the anti-ferromagnetic regime. These equations are deformation of those for the Heisenberg XXX magnet. It is proven that in the thermodynamic limit roots of the deformed equations group into strings. It is proven that the corresponding Yang's action is convex, which implies uniqueness of solution for centers of the strings. The state formed of strings of length (2n+1) is considered and the density of their distribution is found. It is shown that the energy of such a state decreases as n grows. It is observed that non-analyticity of the left hand side of the Bethe equations leads to an additional contribution to the density and energy of strings of even length. Whence it is concluded that the structure of the anti-ferromagnetic vacuum is determined by the behaviour of exponential corrections to string solutions in the thermodynamic limit and possibly involves strings of length 2.Comment: LaTex, 9 pages, 1 figur

Fluctuations and Energy Shifts in the Bethe Ansatz

We study fluctuations and finite size corrections for the ferromagnetic thermodynamic limit in the Bethe ansatz for the Heisenberg XXX1/2 spin chain, which is the AdS/CFT dual of semiclassical spinning strings. For this system we derive the standard quantum mechanical formula which expresses the energy shift as a sum over fluctuation energies. As an example we apply our results to the simplest, one-cut solution of this system and derive its spectrum of fluctuations.Comment: 8 pages, 1 figure, v2: comparison to string theory improved, reference adde

Fine Structure of String Spectrum in AdS(5)xS(5)

The spectrum of an infinite spinning string in AdS(5) does not precisely match the spectrum of dual gauge theory operators, interpolated to the strong coupling regime with the help of Bethe-ansatz equations. We show that the mismatch is due to interactions in the string sigma-model which cannot be neglected even at asymptotically large 't Hooft coupling.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure; v2: IR safety conditions spelled out more precisely; v3: eq. (14) correcte

Correlation functions, null polygonal Wilson loops, and local operators

We consider the ratio of the correlation function of n+1 local operators over the correlator of the first n of these operators in planar N=4 super-Yang-Mills theory, and consider the limit where the first n operators become pairwise null separated. By studying the problem in twistor space, we prove that this is equivalent to the correlator of a n-cusp null polygonal Wilson loop with the remaining operator in general position, normalized by the expectation value of the Wilson loop itself, as recently conjectured by Alday, Buchbinder and Tseytlin. Twistor methods also provide a BCFW-like recursion relation for such correlators. Finally, we study the natural extension where n operators become pairwise null separated with k operators in general position. As an example, we perform an analysis of the resulting correlator for k=2 and discuss some of the difficulties associated to fixing the correlator completely in the strong coupling regime.Comment: 34 pages, 6 figures. v2: typos corrected and references added; v3: published versio

Bethe Ansatz in Stringy Sigma Models

We compute the exact S-matrix and give the Bethe ansatz solution for three sigma-models which arise as subsectors of string theory in AdS(5)xS(5): Landau-Lifshitz model (non-relativistic sigma-model on S(2)), Alday-Arutyunov-Frolov model (fermionic sigma-model with su(1|1) symmetry), and Faddeev-Reshetikhin model (string sigma-model on S(3)xR).Comment: 37 pages, 11 figure

New Integrable Structures in Large-N QCD

We study the anomalous dimensions of single trace operators composed of field strengths $F_{\mu\nu}$ in large-N QCD. The matrix of anomalous dimensions is the Hamiltonian of a compact spin chain with two spin one representations at each vertex corresponding to the selfdual and anti-selfdual components of $F_{\mu\nu}$. Due to the special form of the interaction it is possible to study separately renormalization of purely selfdual components. In this sector the Hamiltonian is integrable and can be exactly solved by Bethe ansatz. Its continuum limit is described by the level two SU(2) WZW model.Comment: 12 pages; V2: ref. added, V3: refs. added, explicit expression for the spin ladder and other text improvement

Eliminating ambiguities for quantum corrections to strings moving in AdS4×CP3AdS_4\times \mathbb{CP}^3

We apply a physical principle, previously used to eliminate ambiguities in quantum corrections to the 2 dimensional kink, to the case of spinning strings moving in $AdS_4\times \mathbb{CP}^3$, thought of as another kind of two dimensional soliton. We find that this eliminates the ambiguities and selects the result compatible with AdS/CFT, providing a solid foundation for one of the previous calculations, which found agreement. The method can be applied to other classical string "solitons".Comment: 18 pages, latex; references added, comments added at end of section 4, a few words changed; footnote added on page 1

Impure Aspects of Supersymmetric Wilson Loops

We study a general class of supersymmetric Wilson loops operator in N = 4 super Yang-Mills theory, obtained as orbits of conformal transformations. These loops are the natural generalization of the familiar circular Wilson-Maldacena operator and their supersymmetric properties are encoded into a Killing spinor that is not pure. We present a systematic analysis of their scalar couplings and of the preserved supercharges, modulo the action of the global symmetry group, both in the compact and in the non-compact case. The quantum behavior of their expectation value is also addressed, in the simplest case of the Lissajous contours: explicit computations at weak-coupling, through Feynman diagrams expansion, and at strong-coupling, by means of AdS/CFT correspondence, suggest the possibility of an exact evaluation.Comment: 40 pages, 4 figure