Non-protected Operators Research Articles

’t Hooft loops and integrability

We consider the defect CFT defined by a ’t Hooft line embedded in mathcal{N} = 4 super Yang-Mills theory. By explicitly quantizing around the given background we exactly reproduce a prediction from S-duality for the correlators between the ’t Hooft line and chiral primaries in the bulk and pave the way for higher loop analyses for non-protected operators. Furthermore, we demonstrate at the leading perturbative order that correlators between the ’t Hooft line and non-protected bulk operators can be efficiently computed using integrability. As a byproduct we find new integrable overlaps in mathfrak{sl} (2) spin chains in different representations.

Colour-dressed hexagon tessellations for correlation functions and non-planar corrections

We continue the study of four-point correlation functions by the hexagon tessellation approach initiated in [38] and [39]. We consider planar tree-level correlation functions in mathcal{N}=4 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory involving two non-protected operators. We find that, in order to reproduce the field theory result, it is necessary to include SU(N) colour factors in the hexagon formalism; moreover, we find that the hexagon approach as it stands is naturally tailored to the single-trace part of correlation functions, and does not account for multi-trace admixtures. We discuss how to compute correlators involving double-trace operators, as well as more general 1/N effects; in particular we compute the whole next-to-leading order in the large-N expansion of tree-level BMN two-point functions by tessellating a torus with punctures. Finally, we turn to the issue of “wrapping”, Lüscher-like corrections. We show that SU(N) colour-dressing reproduces an earlier empirical rule for incorporating single-magnon wrapping, and we provide a direct interpretation of such wrapping processes in terms of mathcal{N}=2 supersymmetric Feynman diagrams.

Asymptotic One-Point Functions in Gauge-String Duality with Defects.

We take the first step in extending the integrability approach to one-point functions in AdS/dCFT to higher loop orders. More precisely, we argue that the formula encoding all tree-level one-point functions of SU(2) operators in the defect version of N=4 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory, dual to the D5-D3 probe-brane system with flux, has a natural asymptotic generalization to higher loop orders. The asymptotic formula correctly encodes the information about the one-loop correction to the one-point functions of nonprotected operators once dressed by a simple flux-dependent factor, as we demonstrate by an explicit computation involving a novel object denoted as an amputated matrix product state. Furthermore, when applied to the Berenstein-Maldacena-Nastase vacuum state, the asymptotic formula gives a result for the one-point function which in a certain double-scaling limit agrees with that obtained in the dual string theory up to wrapping order.

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 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.

AdS/dCFT one-point functions of the SU(3) sector

We propose a closed formula for the tree-level one-point functions of non-protected operators belonging to an SU(3) sub-sector of the defect CFT dual to the D3-D5 probe brane system with background gauge field flux, k, valid for k=2. The formula passes a number of non-trivial analytical and numerical tests. Our proposal is based on expressing the one-point functions as an overlap between a Bethe eigenstate of the SU(3) spin chain and a certain matrix product state, deriving various factorization properties of the Gaudin norm and performing explicit computations for shorter spin chains. As its SU(2) counterpart, the one-point function formula for the SU(3) sub-sector is of determinant type. We discuss the the differences with the SU(2) case and the challenges in extending the present formula beyond k=2.

One-point functions in AdS/dCFT from matrix product states

One-point functions of certain non-protected scalar operators in the defect CFT dual to the D3-D5 probe brane system with k units of world volume flux can be expressed as overlaps between Bethe eigenstates of the Heisenberg spin chain and a matrix product state. We present a closed expression of determinant form for these one-point functions, valid for any value of k. The determinant formula factorizes into the k=2 result times a k-dependent prefactor. Making use of the transfer matrix of the Heisenberg spin chain we recursively relate the matrix product state for higher even and odd k to the matrix product state for k=2 and k=3 respectively. We furthermore find evidence that the matrix product states for k=2 and k=3 are related via a ratio of Baxter's Q-operators. The general k formula has an interesting thermodynamical limit involving a non-trivial scaling of k, which indicates that the match between string and field theory one-point functions found for chiral primaries might be tested for non-protected operators as well. We revisit the string computation for chiral primaries and discuss how it can be extended to non-protected operators.

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.

Cutting through form factors and cross sections of non-protected operators in N = 4 $$ \mathcal{N}=4 $$ SYM

We study the form factors of the Konishi operator, the prime example of non-protected operators in N=4 SYM theory, via the on-shell unitarity methods. Since the Konishi operator is not protected by supersymmetry, its form factors share many features with those in QCD, such as the occurrence of rational terms and of UV divergences that require renormalization. A subtle point is that this operator depends on the spacetime dimension. This requires a modification when calculating its form factors via unitarity methods. We derive a rigorous prescription that implements this modification to all loop orders and obtain the two-point form factor up to two-loop order and the three-point form factor to one-loop order. From these form factors, we construct an IR-finite cross section type quantity, namely the inclusive decay rate of the (off-shell) Konishi operator to any final (on-shell) state. Via the optical theorem, it is connected to the imaginary part of the two-point correlation function. We extract the Konishi anomalous dimension up to two-loop order from it.

Modular interpolating functions for N $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 4 SYM

We construct interpolating functions fully compatible with S-duality. We then consider the problem of resumming perturbative expansions for anomalous dimensions of low twist non-protected operators in N=4 super Yang-Mills theory. When the rank of the gauge group is small, the interpolations suggest that anomalous dimensions of leading twist operators take their maximum value at the point $\tau =\exp(i\pi/3)$. For fixed spin and large enough rank, there is a level-crossing region, where the anomalous dimension of the leading twist operator reaches its maximum and then bounces back.

Correlators of massive string states with conserved currents

We calculate correlation functions of the R-current or the stress-energy tensor T_{\mu\nu} with two non-protected operators dual to generic massive string states with rotation in S^5, in the context of the AdS/CFT correspondence. Field theory Ward identities make predictions about the all-loop behaviour of these correlators. In particular, they restrict the fusion coefficient to be proportional to the R-charge of the operators or to their dimension, respectively, with certain coefficients of proportionality. We reproduce these predictions, at strong coupling, using string theory. Furthermore, we point out that the recently observed strong coupling factorisation of 4-point correlators is consistent with conformal symmetry and puts constraints on the strong coupling expressions of 4-point correlators involving R-currents or the stress-energy tensor.

Non-protected operators in [formula omitted] SYM and multiparticle states of AdS5 SUGRA

We study a class of non-protected local composite operators which occur in the R-symmetry singlet channel of the OPE of two stress-tensor multiplets in N=4 SYM. At tree level these are quadrilinear scalar dimension four operators, two single-traces and two double-traces. In the presence of interaction, due to a non-trivial mixing under renormalization, they split into linear combinations of conformally covariant operators. We resolve the mixing by computing the one-loop two-point functions of all the operators in an N=1 setup, then diagonalizing the anomalous dimension matrix and identifying the quasiprimary operators. We find one operator whose anomalous dimension is negative and suppressed by a factor of 1/ N 2 with respect to the anomalous dimensions of the Konishi-like operators. We reveal the mechanism responsible for this suppression and argue that it works at every order in perturbation theory. In the context of the AdS/CFT correspondence such an operator should be dual to a multiparticle supergravity state whose energy is less than the sum of the corresponding individual single-particle states.