The N=4 SYM Integrable Super Spin Chain

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that the complete one-loop planar dilatation generator of N=4 Super Yang-Mills theory can be described by an integrable su(2,2|4) super spin chain, unifying previous partial results and providing Bethe ansatz solutions.

Contribution

It unifies and generalizes previous integrable spin chain models to describe the full one-loop planar dilatation generator of N=4 SYM using an su(2,2|4) super spin chain.

Findings

Complete description of one-loop planar anomalous dimensions via super spin chain.

Derivation of Bethe ansatz equations for the su(2,2|4) chain.

Speculation on non-perturbative extensions involving non-local deformations.

Abstract

Recently it was established that the one-loop planar dilatation generator of N=4 Super Yang-Mills theory may be identified, in some restricted cases, with the Hamiltonians of various integrable quantum spin chains. In particular Minahan and Zarembo established that the restriction to scalar operators leads to an integrable vector so(6) chain, while recent work in QCD suggested restricting to twist operators, containing mostly covariant derivatives, yields certain integrable Heisenberg XXX chains with non-compact spin symmetry sl(2). Here we unify and generalize these insights and argue that the complete one-loop planar dilatation generator of N=4 is described by an integrable su(2,2|4) super spin chain. We also write down various forms of the associated Bethe ansatz equations, whose solutions are in one-to-one correspondence with the set of all one-loop planar anomalous dimensions in the N=4 gauge theory. We finally speculate on the non-perturbative extension of these integrable structures, which appears to involve non-local deformations of the conserved charges.