On collinear factorization of Wilson loops and MHV amplitudes in 𝒩 = 4 SYM

Abstract

We consider the (multi) Splitting function of Wilson loops and MHV gluon scattering S matrix elements in N=4 SYM. At strong coupling, one can utilize the methods of Alday and Maldacena and at weak coupling (one loop) the correspondence to light like Wilson loops is used. In both cases, the (multi) Splitting function corresponds to flattened cusps in the light like polygon, allowing for a clean disentanglement from the other gluons. We compute it in some cases and estimate some terms in other cases. We also prove the anomalous Ward identity of Drummond et al. in the strong coupling regime. Lastly, we briefly comment on a possible strategy for a proof of collinear factorization of Wilson loops at higher orders of perturbation theory.