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arXiv · 2404.11913

General Relativity from Intersection Theory

Hjalte Frellesvig·Toni Teschke
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Abstract

This paper combines the post-Minkowskian expansion of general relativity with the language of intersection theory. Because of the nature of the soft limit inherent to the post-Minkowskian expansion, the intersection-based approach is of enhanced utility in that theory compared to a generic quantum field theory. In the language of intersection theory, Feynman integrals are rephrased in terms of twisted cocycles. The intersection number is a pairing between two such cocycles and its existence allows for the direct projection onto a basis of master integrals. In this paper we use this approach to compute the second post-Minkowskian contribution to the scattering of two compact astronomical objects, getting results in agreement with previous findings.

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Hjalte Frellesvig, Toni Teschke. 2024-04-18. General Relativity from Intersection Theory. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevd.110.044028

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