Bits, Matrices and 1/N

TL;DR

This paper introduces a string bit formalism for interacting strings in a plane wave background, matching string amplitudes with gauge theory correlators and explaining the effective string coupling via RG analysis.

Contribution

It develops a supersymmetric quantum mechanics formalism for strings, constructs supersymmetry generators at finite coupling, and establishes a precise correspondence with gauge theory calculations.

Findings

Matching of string amplitudes with gauge theory non-planar corrections

Construction of supersymmetry generators and Hamiltonian at finite coupling

RG explanation for the effective string coupling g_2 = J^2/N

Abstract

We propose a simple string bit formalism for interacting strings in a plane wave background, in terms of supersymmetric quantum mechanics with a symmetric product target-space. We construct the light-cone supersymmetry generators and Hamiltonian at finite string coupling. We find a precise match between string amplitudes and the non-planar corrections to the correlation functions of BMN operators computed from gauge theory, and conjecture that this correspondence extends to all orders in perturbation theory. We also give a simple RG explanation for why the effective string coupling is g_2 = J^2/N instead of g_s = g_{ym}^2.