A semi-classical limit of the gauge/string correspondence

TL;DR

This paper explores the semi-classical limit of the gauge/string correspondence by identifying string states with small anomalous dimensions, revealing logarithmic scaling similar to perturbative gauge theory.

Contribution

It applies a world-sheet sigma model approach to find semi-classical string solutions corresponding to gauge operators with small anomalous dimensions, advancing understanding of the gauge/string duality.

Findings

Strings on the leading Regge trajectory have large spin in AdS_5.

Corresponding gauge operators exhibit logarithmic growth in anomalous dimensions.

Highly excited string states show similar scaling behaviors as perturbative gauge theory.

Abstract

A world-sheet sigma model approach is applied to string theories dual to four-dimensional gauge theories, and semi-classical soliton solutions representing highly excited string states are identified which correspond to gauge theory operators with relatively small anomalous dimensions. The simplest class of such states are strings on the leading Regge trajectory, with large spin in AdS_5. These correspond to operators with many covariant derivatives, whose anomalous dimension grows logarithmically with the space-time spin. In the gauge theory, the logarithmic scaling violations are similar to those found in perturbation theory. Other examples of highly excited string states are also considered.