Quantum Mechanics, Random Matrices and BMN Gauge Theory

We review how the identification of gauge theory operators representing string states in the pp-wave/BMN correspondence and their associated anomalous dimension reduces to the determination of the eigenvectors and the eigenvalues of a simple quantum mechanical Hamiltonian and analyze the properties of this Hamiltonian. Furthermore, we discuss the role of random matrices as a tool for performing explicit evaluation of correlation functions.Comment: 16 pages, contribution to proceedings of Workshop on Random Geometry, Krakow, May, 200

Giant D5 Brane Holographic Hall State

We find a new holographic description of strongly coupled defect field theories using probe D5 branes. We consider a system where a large number of probe branes, which are asymptotically D5 branes, blow up into a D7 brane suspended in the bulk of anti-de Sitter space. For a particular ratio of charge density to external magnetic field, so that the Landau level filling fraction per color is equal to one, the D7 brane exhibits an incompressible charge-gapped state with one unit of integer quantized Hall conductivity. The detailed configuration as well as ungapped, compressible configurations for a range of parameters near the gapped one are found by solving the D5 and D7 brane embedding equations numerically and the D7 is shown to be preferred over the D5 by comparing their energies. We then find integer quantum Hall states with higher filling fractions as a stack of D5 branes which blow up to multiple D7 branes where each D7 brane has filling fraction one. We find indications that the n D7 branes describing the filling fraction n state are coincident with a residual SU(n) symmetry when n is a divisor of the total number of D5 branes. We examine the issue of stability of the larger filling fraction Hall states. We argue that, in the D7 brane phase, chiral symmetry restoration could be a first order phase transition.Comment: 30 pages, 15 figures, typos fixed, some clarifying comments adde

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

From 1-matrix model to Kontsevich model

Loop equations of matrix models express the invariance of the models under field redefinitions. We use loop equations to prove that it is possible to define continuum times for the generic hermitian {1-matrix} model such that all correlation functions in the double scaling limit agree with the corresponding correlation functions of the Kontsevich model expressed in terms of kdV times. In addition the double scaling limit of the partition function of the hermitian matrix model agree with the $\tau$-function of the kdV hierarchy corresponding to the Kontsevich model (and not the square of the $\tau$-function) except for some complications at genus zero.Comment: 17 pages, Late

Integrable boundary states in D3-D5 dCFT: beyond scalars

A D3-D5 intersection gives rise to a defect CFT, wherein the rank of the gauge group jumps by k units across a domain wall. The one-point functions of local operators in this set-up map to overlaps between on-shell Bethe states in the underlying spin chain and a boundary state representing the D5 brane. Focussing on the k=1 case, we extend the construction to gluonic and fermionic sectors, which was prohibitively difficult to achieve for k>1. As a byproduct, we test an all-loop proposal for the one-point functions in the su(2) sector at the half-wrapping order of perturbation theory.Comment: 30 pages, 3 figures; v2: distinction between asymptotic and wrapping contributions clarifie

On the Regularization of Extremal Three-point Functions Involving Giant Gravitons

In the AdS_5/CFT_4 set-up, extremal three-point functions involving two giant 1/2 BPS gravitons and one point-like 1/2 BPS graviton, when calculated using semi-classical string theory methods, match the corresponding three-point functions obtained in the tree-level gauge theory. The string theory computation relies on a certain regularization procedure whose justification is based on the match between gauge and string theory. We revisit the regularization procedure and reformulate it in a way which allows a generalization to the ABJM set-up where three-point functions of 1/2 BPS operators are not protected and where a match between tree-level gauge theory and semi-classical string theory is hence not expected.Comment: 5 pages, no figures. v2 updated reference

One-point Functions in Defect CFT and Integrability

We calculate planar tree level one-point functions of non-protected operators in the defect conformal field theory dual to the D3-D5 brane system with k units of the world volume flux. Working in the operator basis of Bethe eigenstates of the Heisenberg XXX_{1/2} spin chain we express the one-point functions as overlaps of these eigenstates with a matrix product state. For k=2 we obtain a closed expression of determinant form for any number of excitations, and in the case of half-filling we find a relation with the N\'eel state. In addition, we present a number of results for the limiting case of infinite k.Comment: 31 pages, 3 figures; v2: references adde

One-Point Functions of Non-protected Operators in the SO(5) symmetric D3-D7 dCFT

We study tree level one-point functions of non-protected scalar operators in the defect CFT, based on N=4 SYM, which is dual to the SO(5) symmetric D3-D7 probe brane system with non-vanishing instanton number. Whereas symmetries prevent operators from the SU(2) and SU(3) sub-sectors from having non-vanishing one-point functions, more general scalar conformal operators, which in particular constitute Bethe eigenstates of the integrable SO(6) spin chain, are allowed to have non-trivial one-point functions. For a series of operators with a small number of excitations we find closed expressions in terms of Bethe roots for these one-point functions, valid for any value of the instanton number. In addition, we present some numerical results for operators with more excitations.Comment: 15 pages, 1 figure. Minor corrections & update

Wilson lines in AdS/dCFT

We consider the expectation value of Wilson lines in two defect versions of N = 4 SYM, both with supersymmetry completely broken, where one is described in terms of an integrable boundary state, the other one not. For both cases, imposing a certain double scaling limit, we find agreement to two leading orders between the expectation values calculated from respectively the field theory and the string theory side of the AdS/dCFT correspondence.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figures; typos correcte