One-loop Wilson loops and the particle-interface potential in AdS/dCFT

TL;DR

This paper computes one-loop quantum corrections to Wilson loops in a defect conformal field theory derived from N=4 super Yang-Mills, and compares results with dual string theory predictions, confirming the AdS/dCFT correspondence.

Contribution

It provides explicit one-loop correction calculations for Wilson loops in a defect CFT and verifies the results against string theory duals, advancing understanding of quantum effects in AdS/dCFT.

Findings

Explicit one-loop correction to Wilson loop expectation value.

Agreement between field theory and string theory calculations.

Extraction of particle-interface potential in the defect CFT.

Abstract

We initiate the calculation of quantum corrections to Wilson loops in a class of four-dimensional defect conformal field theories with vacuum expectation values based on N=4 super Yang-Mills theory. Concretely, we consider an infinite straight Wilson line, obtaining explicit results for the one-loop correction to its expectation value in the large-N limit. This allows us to extract the particle-interface potential of the theory. In a further double-scaling limit, we compare our results to those of a previous calculation in the dual string-theory set-up consisting of a D5-D3 probe-brane system with flux, and we find perfect agreement.