New effects in gauge theory from pp-wave superstrings

It has recently been observed that IIB string theory in the pp-wave background can be used to calculate certain quantities I such as the dimensions of BMN operators, as exact functions of the effective coupling lambda(')=lambda/J(2). These functions interpolate smoothly between the weak and strong effective coupling regimes of N = 4 SYM theory at large R charge J. In this Letter we use the pp-wave superstring field theory of hep-th/0204146 to study more complicated observables. The expansion of the three-string interaction vertex suggests more complicated interpolating functions which in general give rise to fractional powers of lambda(') in physical observables at weak effective coupling. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.