arXiv subjects

Alok Laddha

Publications and source records attributed to Alok Laddha.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Doubly-scaled planar $\mathcal{N} = 4$ SYM & Carroll Holography

In their seminal paper, Okuda and Penedones (OP) put forward an intriguing proposal towards holography in asymptotically flat spacetimes (AFS). They showed that the flat space limit of 4 point bosonic tree-level string amplitude in AdS$_{5}\, \times\, S^{5}$ is dual to a specific double scaling limit of 4 point correlator in four dimensional (4d) $\mathcal{N} = 4$ super Yang-Mills (SYM) theory. In this paper, we show that the resulting boundary correlators can be used to define a 4d Carrollian conformal field theory (CFT) on future null infinity. This is done by mapping the set of doubly scaled correlators in SYM to null infinity, the conformal boundary of AFS. A Carroll CFT thus emerges in the infinite 't Hooft coupling limit of $\mathcal{N} = 4$ SYM. We extend the OP analysis to higher point functions and show how the Gram conditions on flat space amplitude put constraints on the double scaling limit of SYM correlators. We then use the soft factorization theorem for dilatonic string amplitude to write a recursion relation for the $({1}/{2})$-BPS sector of $\mathcal{N} = 4$ SYM in the double scaling limit. Finally, we show that the essential ideas underlying such a double scaling limit can be used as a tool-kit to build a class of Carrollian correlators, and hence define a Carrollian CFT, via certain integral transforms of flat space amplitudes of non-gravitational effective field theories.

hep-th↗

arXiv2025

Large deflection scattering, soft radiation and KMOC formalism

KMOC (Kosower, Maybee, and O'Connell) formalism is an approach to analyze classical scattering in gauge theories and gravity using a class of ``inclusive'' observables which can be computed solely from on-shell amplitudes \cite{Kosower:2018adc}. This formalism has led to striking developments in the context of perturbative scattering, which corresponds to large impact parameter scattering. As a result, in its current form, the KMOC formulae cannot be directly applied to processes for generic values of the impact parameter. However, there is a domain where the relationship between classical radiation and on-shell amplitudes can be stretched beyond large impact parameter scattering. This regime is defined by the soft expansion of outgoing radiation. It is thus natural to ask whether such soft radiative fields can be computed using the basic paradigm set by the KMOC formalism. In this short note, we show that this is indeed the case for electromagnetic memory. In particular, we compute an inclusive observable associated with soft flux at ${\cal I}^{+}$ and show that, irrespective of the details of the hard scattering, this observable defines a non-perturbative formula for the electromagnetic memory in the classical limit. We argue that the result obtained for electromagnetic memory using the KMOC paradigm is consistent with that of \cite{Laddha:2018rle}, where the classical limit of the quantum soft theorem was derived using saddle-point analysis. The gravitational case, however, is qualitatively different due to the presence of the nonlinear memory effect, which requires knowledge of the hard amplitude. Consequently, unlike the electromagnetic memory, we have not been able to show consistency of the leading soft graviton theorem and the soft inclusive gravitational flux obtained using the KMOC formalism.

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arXiv2025

Towards the Parametric Renormalization of the S-matrix -- I

Zimmermann's forest formula is the corner stone of perturbative renormalization in QFT. By renormalizing individual Feynman graphs, it generates the UV finite S-matrix. This approach to renormalization makes the graph and all its forests center pieces in the theory of renormalization. On the other hand the positive geometry program delegate the role of Feynman graphs as secondary to the amplitude itself, which are generated by canonical forms associated to positive geometries. State of the art in this program is the convergence of S-matrix theory in local QFTs and string theory as the scattering amplitudes in QFT arise as integrals over certain moduli spaces. These integrals are known as curve integrals. For theories such as $\textrm{Tr}(\Phi^{3})$ theory with massive colored scalars, these integrals are divergent in the UV and have to be regularized. It is then natural to ask if there is a ``forest-like formula'' for these integrals which produce a renormalized amplitude without needing to explicitly invoke the forests associated to divergent subgraphs. In this paper, we initiate such a program by deriving forest-like formula for planar massive $\textrm{Tr}(\Phi^{3})$ amplitudes in $D = 4$ dimensions. Our analysis relies on the insightful manifestation of the forest formula derived by Brown and Kreimer in \cite{Brown:2011pj}, that lead us to a definition of ``tropical counter-term'' for the bare amplitude.

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arXiv2024

The Classical Super-Rotation Infrared Triangle

The universality of gravitational scattering at low energies and large distances encoded in soft theorems and memory effects can be understood from symmetries. In four-dimensional asymptotically flat spacetimes the infinite enhancement of translations, extending the Poincar\'e group to the BMS group, is the symmetry underlying Weinberg's soft graviton theorem and the gravitational displacement memory effect. Beyond this leading infrared triangle, loop corrections alter their nature by introducing logarithms in the soft expansion and late time tails to the memory, and this persists in the classical limit. In this work we give the first complete description of an `infrared triangle' where the long-range nature of gravitational interactions is accounted for. Building on earlier results in 2403.13053 where we derived a novel conservation law associated to the infinite dimensional enhancement of Lorentz transformations to superrotations, we prove here its validity to all orders in the gravitational coupling and show that it implies the classical logarithmic soft graviton theorem of Saha-Sahoo-Sen in 1912.06413. We furthermore extend the formula for the displacement memory and its tail from particles to fields, thus completing the classical superrotation infrared triangle.

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arXiv2024

The Classical Super-Phaserotation Infrared Triangle

The universality of the logarithmic soft photon theorem in four dimensions can be traced to an infinite-dimensional asymptotic symmetry which acts as a local phase rotation on matter as we have shown in 2403.13053. Here we extend our earlier results for the charges associated to these superphaserotations to all orders in the coupling and prove that their conservation is exactly the classical logarithmic soft photon theorem discovered by Saha, Sahoo and Sen in 1912.06413. We furthermore generalize the formulae for the associated electromagnetic displacement memory and its tail from particles to scalar matter fields. This completes the classical superphaserotation infrared triangle.

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arXiv2024

Restoring Causality in Higher Curvature Gravity

Incorporating higher curvature terms into gravity theories modifies the classical field equations, potentially leading to theoretical issues like Shapiro time advancements that violate the Camanho, Edelstein, Maldacena, and Zhiboedov (CEMZ) causality criterion. We explore this criterion within the context of Generalised Quadratic Gravity (GQG), a higher curvature theory with a distinct graviton three-point coupling from General Relativity (GR). By constructing an exact shock wave solution of GQG and calculating the Shapiro time shift for a massless probe graviton, we demonstrate that it can remain strictly positive within a classically allowed parameter space of couplings, ensuring the theory's adherence to the CEMZ criterion. This finding indicates that GQG can offer a causal extension beyond GR, paving the way for further exploration into the consistency of classical higher curvature gravity theories.

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arXiv2024

Symmetries of the gravitational scattering in the absence of peeling

The symmetries of the gravitational scattering are intimately tied to the symmetries which preserve asymptotic flatness at null infinity. In Penrose's definition of asymptotic flatness, a central role is played by the notion of asymptotic simplicity and the ensuing peeling behavior which dictates the decay rate of the Weyl tensor. However, there is now accumulating evidence that in a generic gravitational scattering the peeling property is broken, so that the spacetime is not asymptotically-flat in the usual sense. These obstructions to peeling can be traced back to the existence of universal radiative low frequency observables called "tails to the displacement memory". The universality of these tail modes is the statement of the classical logarithmic soft graviton theorem of Sahoo, Saha and Sen. Four-dimensional gravitation scattering therefore exhibits a rich infrared interplay between tail to the memory, loss of peeling, and universal logarithmic soft theorems. In this paper we study the solution space and the asymptotic symmetries for logarithmically-asymptotically-flat spacetimes. These are defined by a polyhomogeneous expansion of the Bondi metric which gives rise to a loss of peeling, and represent the classical arena which can accommodate a generic gravitational scattering containing tails to the memory. We show that while the codimension-two generalized BMS charges are sensitive to the loss of peeling at $\mathcal{I}^+$, the flux is insensitive to the fate of peeling. Due to the tail to the memory, the soft superrotation flux contains a logarithmic divergence whose coefficient is the quantity which is conserved in the scattering by virtue of the logarithmic soft theorem. In our analysis we also exhibit new logarithmic evolution equations and flux-balance laws, whose presence suggests the existence of an infinite tower of subleading logarithmic soft graviton theorems.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2024

Positive Geometries, Corolla Polynomial and Gauge Theory Amplitudes

Arkani-Hamed, Bai, He, and Yan (ABHY) discovered a convex realisation of the associahedron whose combinatorial and geometric structure generates tree-level amplitudes in bi-adjoint scalar theory. In this paper, we identify S-matrix of Yang-Mills theory with a scalar obtained by contracting the canonical form of ABHY associahedron with a multi-vector field (MVF) in the kinematic space. Components of this MVF are determined by the combinatorial structures that underlie the associahedron and Corolla polynomial that was introduced by Kreimer, Sars, and van Suijlekom (KSVS) in [2]. KSVS used the Corolla polynomial to obtain (at all orders in the loop expansion) the parametric representation of gauge theory Feynman integral from the corresponding Feynman integral in $ϕ^{3}$ theory. Using the full power of Corolla polynomial, we then extend these results to obtain Yang-Mills one loop planar integrand by contracting the Corolla generated MVF with the canonical form defined by $\hat{D}_{n}$ polytope discovered by Arkani-Hamed, Frost, Plamondon, Salvatori, Thomas. We also demonstrate that KSVS representation of Corolla graph differential in the parametric space can be readily extended to "spin up" the curve integral formulae for $\textrm{Tr}ϕ^{3}$ amplitude discovered in [3,4] and give an explicit construction of such formulae for tree-level and planar one loop gluon amplitudes.

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arXiv2024

Asymptotic Symmetries for Logarithmic Soft Theorems in Gauge Theory and Gravity

Gauge theories and perturbative gravity in four dimensions are governed by a tower of infinite-dimensional symmetries which arise from tree-level soft theorems. However, aside from the leading soft theorems which are all-loop exact, subleading ones receive loop corrections due to long-range infrared effects which result in new soft theorems with logarithmic dependence on the energy of the soft particle. The conjectured universality of these logarithmic soft theorems to all loop orders cries out for a symmetry interpretation. In this letter we initiate a program to compute long-range infrared corrections to the charges that generate the asymptotic symmetries in (scalar) QED and perturbative gravity. For late-time fall-offs of the electromagnetic and gravitational fields which give rise to infrared dressings for the matter fields, we derive finite charge conservation laws and show that in the quantum theory they correspond precisely to the first among the infinite tower of logarithmic soft theorems. This symmetry interpretation, by virtue of being universal and all-loop exact, is a key element for a holographic principle in spacetimes with flat asymptotics.

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arXiv2023

Positive Geometries of S-matrix without Color

In this note, we prove that the realization of associahedron discovered by Arkani-Hamed, Bai, He, and Yun (ABHY) is a positive geometry for tree-level S-matrix of scalars which have no color and which interact via cubic coupling. More in detail, we consider diffeomorphic images of the ABHY associahedron. The diffeomorphisms are linear maps parametrized by the right cosets of the Dihedral group on n elements. The set of all the boundaries associated with these copies of ABHY associahedron exhaust all the simple poles. We prove that the sum over the diffeomorphic copies of ABHY associahedron is a positive geometry and the total volume obtained by summing over all the dual associahedra is proportional to the tree-level S matrix of (massive or massless) scalar particles with cubic coupling. We then provide non-trivial evidence that the projection of the planar scattering forms parametrized by the Stokes polytope on these realizations of the associahedron leads to the tree-level amplitudes of scalar particles, which interact via quartic coupling. Our results build on ideas laid out in our previous works, leading to further evidence that a large class of positive geometries which are diffeomorphic to the ABHY associahedron defines an ``amplituhedron" for a tree-level S matrix of some local and unitary scalar theory. We also highlight a fundamental obstruction in applying these ideas to discover positive geometry for the one loop integrand when propagating states have no color.

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arXiv2023

Soft Constraints on KMOC Formalism

In this note, we investigate the implications of classical soft theorems for the formalism developed by Kosower, Maybee and O'Connell (KMOC) to derive classical observables in gauge theory and gravity from scattering amplitudes. In particular, we show that the radiative electro-magnetic field at leading order in the soft expansion imposes an infinite hierarchy of constraints on the expectation value of the family of observables generated by \textit{monomials} of linear impulse. We perform an explicit check on these constraints at next to leading order (NLO) in the coupling and as a corollary show how up to NLO, soft radiation obtained from quantum amplitudes is consistent with the (leading) classical soft photon theorem. We also argue that in 4 dimensions the classical log soft theorem derived by Saha, Sahoo and Sen generates an infinite hierarchy of constraints on the expectation value of operators which are products of one angular momentum and an arbitrary number of linear momenta.

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arXiv2022

Squinting at massive fields from infinity

We study a novel asymptotic limit of massive scalar fields in nongravitational quantum field theories in four-dimensional flat space. We foliate the spacetime into a set of dS$_3$ slices that are spacelike to, and at a constant proper distance from, an arbitrarily chosen origin, and study the boundary dS$_3$ obtained in the infinite-distance limit. Massive bulk fields have an exponentially small tail in this limit, and by stripping off this tail we obtain observables that are intrinsic to the boundary dS$_3$. A single massive field in the bulk can be decomposed into an infinite set of dS$_3$ fields, and the Minkowski vacuum corresponds to the Euclidean vacuum for these fields. Our procedure for extrapolating bulk observables induces potential singularities in boundary correlators but we show how they can be cured in the free theory by smearing the boundary operators. We show that by integrating boundary operators with suitable smearing functions it is possible to reconstruct all local bulk operators in the free theory. We argue, using perturbation theory, that our extrapolation procedure continues to be well defined in the presence of interactions. We demonstrate a relationship between the width of the boundary smearing function and the localization of the bulk field. We study other interesting properties of the boundary algebra including the action of global translations and the manner in which local bulk interactions are encoded on the boundary.

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arXiv2022

Towards Positive Geometries of Massive Scalar field theories

Building on the prior work in [1] we locate a family of positive geometries in the kinematic space which are a specific class of convex realisations of the associahedron. These realisations are obtained by scaling and translating the kinematic space associahedron discovered by by Arkani-Hamed, Bai, He and Yan (ABHY). We call the resulting polytopes, deformed realisations of the associahedron. The deformed realisations shed new light on the CHY formula. One of the striking discoveries in [2] was the fact that the CHY scattering equations generate diffeomorphism between the (compactified) CHY moduli space and the ABHY associahedron. As we argue, the deformed realisation of the associahedron can also be interpreted as an diffeomorphic image of the CHY moduli space under scattering equations that we call deformed scattering equations. The canonical form in the kinematic space is thus once again the push-forward of the Parke-Taylor form . A natural off-shoot of our analysis is the universality of the Parke-Taylor form as a CHY Integrand for a class of (tree-level and planar) multi-scalar field amplitudes. These ideas help us in proving the existence of positive geometries for certain specific multi-scalar interactions. We prove that in a field theory with a massless and a massive bi-adjoint scalar fields which interact via cubic interaction, the tree-level S-matrix with massless external states and at most one massive propagator is a weighted sum over the canonical forms defined by certain deformed realisations of the associahedron. Finally, we show that these ideas admit an extension to one-loop. In particular, the one loop S-matrix integrand with at most one massive propagator is a weighted sum over canonical forms of a family of deformed realisations of the type-D cluster polytope, discovered in [3,4].

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arXiv2021

Causality constraints in Quadratic Gravity

Classifying consistent effective field theories for the gravitational interaction has recently been the subject of intense research. Demanding the absence of causality violation in high energy graviton scattering processes has led to a hierarchy of constraints on higher derivative terms in the Lagrangian. Most of these constraints have relied on analysis that is performed in general relativistic backgrounds, as opposed to a generic solution to the equations of motion which are perturbed by higher curvature operators. Hence, these constraints are necessary but may not be sufficient to ensure that the theory is consistent. In this context, we explore the so-called CEMZ causality constraints on Quadratic Gravity in a space of shock wave solutions beyond GR. We show that the Shapiro time delay experienced by a graviton is polarization-independent and positive, regardless of the strength of the gravitational couplings. Our analysis shows that as far as the causality constraints are concerned, albeit inequivalent to General Relativity due to additional propagating modes, Quadratic Gravity is causal as per as the diagnostic proposed by CEMZ.

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arXiv2021

BMS Algebra, Double Soft Theorems, and All That

The Lie algebra generated by supertranslation and superrotation vector fields at null infinity, known as the extended BMS (eBMS) algebra is expected to be a symmetry algebra of the quantum gravity S matrix. However, the algebra of commutators of the quantized eBMS charges has been a thorny issue in the literature. On the one hand, recent developments in celestial holography point towards a symmetry algebra which is a closed Lie algebra with no central extension or anomaly, and on the other hand, work of Distler, Flauger and Horn has shown that when these charges are quantized at null infinity, the commutator of a supertranslation and a superrotation charge does not close into a supertranslation but gets deformed by a 2 cocycle term, which is consistent with the original proposal of Barnich and Troessaert. In this paper, we revisit this issue in light of recent developments in the classical understanding of superrotation charges. We show that, for extended BMS symmetries, a phase space at null infinity is an extension of hitherto considered phase spaces which also includes a mode associated to the spin memory and its conjugate partner. We also show that for holomorphic vector fields on the celestial plane, quantization of the eBMS charges in the new phase space leads to an algebra which closes without a 2 cocycle. The degenerate vacua are labelled by the soft news and a Schwarzian mode which corresponds to deformations of the celestial metric by superrotations. The closed eBMS quantum algebra may also lead to a convergence between two manifestations of asymptotic symmetries, one via asymptotic quantization at null infinity and the other through celestial holography.

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arXiv2021

Soft Radiation from Scattering Amplitudes Revisited

We apply the recently developed formalism by Kosower, Maybee and O'Connell (KMO) to analyse the soft electromagnetic and soft gravitational radiation emitted by particles without spin in Four and higher dimensions. We use this formalism in conjunction with quantum soft theorems to derive radiative electro-magnetic and gravitational fields in low frequency expansion and to next to leading order in the coupling. We show that in all dimensions, the classical limit of sub-leading soft (photon and graviton) theorems is consistent with the classical soft theorems proved by Sen et al in a series of papers. In particular Saha, Sahoo and Sen proved classical soft theorems for electro-magnetic and gravitational radiation in Four dimensions. For the class of scattering processes that can be analyzed using KMO formalism, we show that the classical limit of quantum soft theorems is consistent with these classical soft theorems, paving the way for their proof from scattering amplitudes.

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arXiv2021

Towards Positive Geometry of Multi Scalar Field Amplitudes : Accordiohedron and Effective Field Theory

The geometric structure of S-matrix encapsulated by the "Amplituhedron program" has begun to reveal itself even in non-supersymmetric quantum field theories. Starting with the seminal work of Arkani-Hamed, Bai, He and Yan it is now understood that for a wide class of scalar quantum field theories, tree-level amplitudes are canonical forms associated to polytopes known as accordiohedra. Similarly the higher loop scalar integrands are canonical forms associated to so called type-D cluster polytopes for cubic interactions or recently discovered class of polytopes termed pseudo-accordiohedron for higher order scalar interactions. In this paper, we continue to probe the universality of these structures for a wider class of scalar quantum field theories. More in detail, we discover new realisations of the associahedron in planar kinematic space whose canonical forms generate (colour-ordered) tree-level S matrix of external massless particles with $n-4$ massless poles and one massive pole at $m^{2}$. The resulting amplitudes are associated to $λ_{1}\, ϕ_{1}^{3}\, +\, λ_{2}\, ϕ_{1}^{2}ϕ_{2}$ potential where $ϕ_{1}$ and $ϕ_{2}$ are massless and massive scalar fields with bi-adjoint colour indices respectively. We also show how in the "decoupling limit" (where $m \rightarrow \infty, λ_{2} \rightarrow \infty$ such that $g := \frac{λ_{2}}{m} = \textrm{finite}$) these associahedra project onto a specific class of accordiohedron which are known to be positive geometries of amplitudes generated by $λϕ_{1}^{3} + g ϕ_{1}^{4}$.

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arXiv2020

The Holographic Nature of Null Infinity

We argue that, in a theory of quantum gravity in a four dimensional asymptotically flat spacetime, all information about massless excitations can be obtained from an infinitesimal neighbourhood of the past boundary of future null infinity and does not require observations over all of future null infinity. Moreover, all information about the state that can be obtained through observations near a cut of future null infinity can also be obtained from observations near any earlier cut although the converse is not true. We provide independent arguments for these two assertions. Similar statements hold for past null infinity. These statements have immediate implications for the information paradox since they suggest that the fine-grained von Neumann entropy of the state defined on a segment $(-\infty,u)$ of future null infinity is independent of u. This is very different from the oft-discussed Page curve that this entropy is sometimes expected to obey. We contrast our results with recent discussions of the Page curve in the context of black hole evaporation, and also discuss the relation of our results to other proposals for holography in flat space.

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