Smooth Wilson loops from the continuum limit of null polygons

Abstract: We present integral equations for the area of minimal surfaces in AdS_3 ending on generic smooth boundary contours. The equations are derived from the continuum limit of the AMSV result for null polygonal boundary contours. Remarkably these continuum equations admit exact solutions in some special cases. In particular we describe a novel exact solution which interpolates between the circle and 4-cusp solutions.