Sensitivity of holographic ${\cal N}=4$ SYM plasma hydrodynamics to finite coupling corrections

Abstract

Gauge theory/string theory holographic correspondence for ${\cal N}=4$ supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory is well under control in the planar limit, and for large (infinitely large) 't Hooft coupling, $λ\to \infty$. Certain aspects of the correspondence can be extended including ${\cal O}(λ^{-3/2})$ corrections. There are no reliable first principle computations of the ${\cal N}=4$ plasma non-equilibrium properties beyond the stated order. We show extreme sensitivity of the non-hydrodynamic spectra of holographic ${\cal N}=4$ SYM plasma to ${\cal O}(λ^{-3})$ corrections, challenging any conclusions reached from 'resummation' of ${\cal O}(λ^{-3/2})$ corrections.

10 pages, 2 figures; v2: PRD version (rapid communications)