Non-Perturbative String Theory from AdS/CFT

Abstract

The large $N$ expansion of giant graviton correlators is considered. Giant gravitons are described using operators with a bare dimension of order $N$. In this case the usual $1/N$ expansion is not applicable and there are contributions to the correlator that are non-perturbative in character. By writing the (square of the) correlators in terms of the hypergeometric function ${}_2F_1(a,b;c;1)$, we are able to rephrase the $1/N$ expansion of the correlator as a semi-classical expansion for a Schr\"odinger equation. In this way we are able to argue that the $1/N$ expansion of the correlator is Borel summable and that it exhibits a parametric Stokes phenomenon as the angular momentum of the giant graviton is varied.