BMN operators and string field theory

We extract from gauge theoretical calculations the matrix elements of the SYM dilatation operator. By the BMN correspondence this should coincide with the 3-string vertex of light cone string field theory in the pp-wave background. 2) We find a mild but important discrepancy with the SFT results. If the modified O(g(2)) matrix elements are used, the O(g(2)(2)) anomalous dimensions are exactly reproduced without the need for a contact interaction in the single-string sector. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.