Three-point functions in N = 4 Yang-Mills theory and pp- waves.

Abstract

Recently it has been proposed that the coefficient of the three-point function of the BMN operators in = 4 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory is related to the three-string interactions in the pp-wave background. We calculate three-point functions of these operators to the first order in the effective Yang-Mills coupling λ' = gYM2N/J2 in planar perturbation theory. On the string theory side, we derive the explicit expressions of the Neumann matrices to all orders in 1/(μp+α')2. This allows us to compute the corresponding three-string scattering amplitudes. This provides an all orders prediction for the field theory three-point functions. We compare our field theory results with the string theory results to the subleading order in 1/(μp+α')2 and find perfect agreement.