Exact expressions for quantum corrections to spinning strings

Abstract

The one-loop worldsheet quantum corrections to the energy of spinning strings on R x S^3 within AdS_5 x S^5 are reexamined. The explicit expansion in the effective 't Hooft coupling \lambda'= \lambda/J^2 is rigorously derived. The expansion contains both analytic and non-analytic terms in \lambda', as well as exponential corrections. Furthermore, we pin down the origin of the terms that are not captured by the quantum string Bethe ansatz, which only produces analytic terms in \lambda'. It is shown that the analytic terms arise from string fluctuations within the S^3, whereas the non-analytic and exponential terms, which are not captured by the Bethe ansatz, originate from the fluctuations in all directions within the supersymmetric sigma model on AdS_5 x S^5. We also comment on the case of spinning string in AdS_3 x S^1.