Some Systematics of the Coupling Constant Dependence of N=4 Yang-Mills

Abstract

The operator, O_τ, that generates infinitesimal changes of the coupling constant in N=4 Yang-Mills sits in the same supermultiplet as the superconformal currents. We show how superconformal current Ward identities determine a class of terms in the operator product expansion of O_τwith any other operator. In certain cases, this leads to constraints on the coupling dependence of correlation functions in N=4 Yang-Mills. As an application, we demonstrate the exact non-renormalization of two and certain three-point correlation functions of BPS operators.

56 pages, LaTeX; amended and expanded arguments, added references