Stringy sums and corrections to the quantum string Bethe ansatz

TL;DR

This paper investigates how zeta-function regularization impacts quantum corrections to spinning strings, revealing that it omits certain perturbative and non-perturbative terms, which may affect the accuracy of the quantum string Bethe equations.

Contribution

It compares zeta-function regularization with exact sum evaluations, highlighting missing terms and potential corrections to the quantum string Bethe ansatz.

Findings

Zeta-function regularization misses perturbative terms.

It also omits non-perturbative contributions.

Results suggest possible corrections to the Bethe equations.

Abstract

We analyze the effects of zeta-function regularization on the evaluation of quantum corrections to spinning strings. Previously, this method was applied in the sl(2) subsector and yielded agreement to third order in perturbation theory with the quantum string Bethe ansatz. In this note we discuss related sums and compare zeta-function regularization against exact evaluation of the sums, thereby showing that the zeta-function regularized expression misses out perturbative as well as non-perturbative terms. In particular, this may imply corrections to the proposed quantum string Bethe equations. This also explains the previously observed discrepancy between the semi-classical string and the quantum string Bethe ansatz in the regime of large winding number.