Speaker
Juan Maldacena
(IAS Princeton)
Description
We consider polygonal Wilson loops with null edges in conformal gauge theories.
We derive an OPE-like expansion when several successive lines of the polygon
are becoming aligned.
The limit corresponds to a collinear, or multicollinear, limit and we explain the
systematics
of all the subleading corrections, going beyond the leading terms that were
previously considered.
These subleading corrections are governed by excitations of high spin operators,
or excitations
of a flux tube that goes between two Wilson lines. The discussion is valid for any
conformal gauge
theory, for any coupling and in any dimension.
For N=4 super Yang Mills we check this expansion at strong coupling and at
two loops at weak coupling .
We also make predictions for the remainder function at higher loops.
We will also discuss aspects of the excitations around the relevant flux tube or
"sea of derivatives''
