Higher rank Wilson loops from a matrix model

TL;DR

This paper calculates Wilson loops in N=4 SYM theory for various representations using a matrix model, providing explicit formulas at different couplings and matching supergravity results.

Contribution

It introduces a systematic matrix model approach to compute Wilson loops in symmetric and antisymmetric representations at all couplings.

Findings

Explicit formulas for Wilson loops at large and small couplings

Matching supergravity results from D3 and D5 branes

Unified matrix model framework for different representations

Abstract

We compute the circular Wilson loop of N=4 SYM theory at large N in the rank k symmetric and antisymmetric tensor representations. Using a quadratic Hermitian matrix model we obtain expressions for all values of the 't Hooft coupling. At large and small couplings we give explicit formulae and reproduce supergravity results from both D3 and D5 branes within a systematic framework.