Light-Cone Wilson Loops and the String/Gauge Correspondence

We investigate a \Pi-shape Wilson loop in N=4 super Yang--Mills theory, which lies partially at the light-cone, and consider an associated open superstring in AdS_5 x S^5. We discuss how this Wilson loop determines the anomalous dimensions of conformal operators with large Lorentz spin and present an explicit calculation in perturbation theory to order \lambda. We find the minimal surface in the supergravity approximation, that reproduces the Gubser, Klebanov and Polyakov prediction for the anomalous dimensions at large \lambda=g_YM^2 N, and discuss its quantum-mechanical interpretation.Comment: 17pp., Latex, 4 figures; v.2: factors of 2 put righ

Thermodynamics of D0-branes in matrix theory

We examine the matrix theory representation of D0-brane dynamics at finite temperature. In this case, violation of supersymmetry by temperature leads to a non-trivial static potential between D0-branes at any finite temperature. We compute the static potential in the 1-loop approximation and show that it is short-ranged and attractive. We compare the result with the computations in superstring theory. We show that thermal states of D0-branes can be reproduced by matrix theory only when certain care is taken in integration over the moduli space of classical solutions in compactified time.Comment: 13 pages, 1 figur

Zig Zag symmetry in AdS/CFT duality

The validity of the Bianchi identity, which is intimately connected with the zig zag symmetry, is established, for piecewise continuous contours, in the context of Polakov's gauge field-string connection in the large 'tHooft coupling limit, according to which the chromoelectric `string' propagates in five dimensions with its ends attached on a Wilson loop in four dimensions. An explicit check in the wavy line approximation is presented.Comment: 24 pages version to appear in EPJ

On noncommutative vacua and noncommutative solitons

We consider noncommutative theory of a compact scalar field. The recently discovered projector solitons are interpreted as classical vacua in the model considered. Localized solutions to the projector equation are pointed out and their brane interpretation is discussed. An example of the noncommutative soliton interpolating between such vacua is given. No strong noncommutativity limit is assumed.Comment: 9 pages, latex, references adde

Twisted Eguchi-Kawai Reduced Chiral Models

We study the twisted Eguchi-Kawai (TEK) reduction procedure for large-N unitary matrix lattice models. In particular, we consider the case of two-dimensional principal chiral models, and use numerical Monte Carlo (MC) simulations to check the conjectured equivalence of TEK reduced model and standard lattice model in the large-N limit. The MC results are compared with the large-N limit of lattice principal chiral models to verify the supposed equivalence. The consistency of the TEK reduction procedure is verified in the strong-coupling region, i.e. for $\beta<\beta_c$ where $\beta_c$ is the location of the large-N phase transition. On the other hand, in the weak-coupling regime $\beta>\beta_c$, relevant for the continuum limit, our MC results do not support the equivalence of the large-N limits of the lattice chiral model and the corresponding TEK reduction. The implications for the correspondence between TEK model and noncommutative field theory are also discussed.Comment: 16 page

Wilson Loops, D-Branes, and Reparametrization Path-Integrals

We study path-integrals over reparametrizations of the world-sheet boundary. Such integrals arise when string propagates between fixed space-time contours. In gauge/string duality they are needed to describe gauge theory Wilson loops. We show that (1) in AdS/CFT, the integral is well defined and gives a finite 1-loop correction to the Wilson loop; (2) in critical string theory, the integral is UV divergent, and fixed contour amplitudes are off shell. In the second case, we show that the divergences can be removed by renormalizing the contour. We calculate the 2-loop contour beta-function and explain how it is related to the D0-brane effective action. We also apply this method to compute the first alpha' correction to the effective action of higher dimensional branes.Comment: 36p

Sudakov Resummation for Subleading SCET Currents and Heavy-to-Light Form Factors

The hard-scattering contributions to heavy-to-light form factors at large recoil are studied systematically in soft-collinear effective theory (SCET). Large logarithms arising from multiple energy scales are resummed by matching QCD onto SCET in two stages via an intermediate effective theory. Anomalous dimensions in the intermediate theory are computed, and their form is shown to be constrained by conformal symmetry. Renormalization-group evolution equations are solved to give a complete leading-order analysis of the hard-scattering contributions, in which all single and double logarithms are resummed. In two cases, spin-symmetry relations for the soft-overlap contributions to form factors are shown not to be broken at any order in perturbation theory by hard-scattering corrections. One-loop matching calculations in the two effective theories are performed in sample cases, for which the relative importance of renormalization-group evolution and matching corrections is investigated. The asymptotic behavior of Sudakov logarithms appearing in the coefficient functions of the soft-overlap and hard-scattering contributions to form factors is analyzed.Comment: 50 pages, 10 figures; minor corrections, version to appear in JHE

Non-perturbative equivalences among large N gauge theories with adjoint and bifundamental matter fields

We prove an equivalence, in the large N limit, between certain U(N) gauge theories containing adjoint representation matter fields and their orbifold projections. Lattice regularization is used to provide a non-perturbative definition of these theories; our proof applies in the strong coupling, large mass phase of the theories. Equivalence is demonstrated by constructing and comparing the loop equations for a parent theory and its orbifold projections. Loop equations for both expectation values of single-trace observables, and for connected correlators of such observables, are considered; hence the demonstrated non-perturbative equivalence applies to the large N limits of both string tensions and particle spectra.Comment: 40 pages, JHEP styl

High Energy QCD: Stringy Picture from Hidden Integrability

We discuss the stringy properties of high-energy QCD using its hidden integrability in the Regge limit and on the light-cone. It is shown that multi-colour QCD in the Regge limit belongs to the same universality class as superconformal $\cal{N}$=2 SUSY YM with $N_f=2N_c$ at the strong coupling orbifold point. The analogy with integrable structure governing the low energy sector of $\cal{N}$=2 SUSY gauge theories is used to develop the brane picture for the Regge limit. In this picture the scattering process is described by a single M2 brane wrapped around the spectral curve of the integrable spin chain and unifying hadrons and reggeized gluons involved in the process. New quasiclassical quantization conditions for the complex higher integrals of motion are suggested which are consistent with the $S-$duality of the multi-reggeon spectrum. The derivation of the anomalous dimensions of the lowest twist operators is formulated in terms of the Riemann surfacesComment: 37 pages, 3 figure