Toward getting finite results from N=4 SYM with alpha'-corrections

Abstract

We take our first step toward getting finite results from the alpha'-corrected D=4 N=4 SYM theory with emphasis on the field theory techniques. Starting with the classical action of N=4 SYM with the leading alpha'-corrections, we examine new divergence at one loop due to the presence of the alpha'-terms. The new vertices do not introduce additional divergence to the propagators or to the three-point correlators. However they do introduce new divergence, e.g., to the scalar four-point function which should be canceled by extra counter-terms. We expect that the counter-terms will appear in the 1PI effective action that is obtained by considering the string annulus diagram. We work out the structure of the divergence and comment on an application to the anomalous dimension of the SYM operators in the context of AdS/CFT.