arXiv subjects

Carlos R. Mafra

Publications and source records attributed to Carlos R. Mafra.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2019

Towards the n-point one-loop superstring amplitude II: Worldsheet functions and their duality to kinematics

This is the second installment of a series of three papers in which we describe a method to determine higher-point correlation functions in one-loop open-superstring amplitudes from first principles. In this second part, we study worldsheet functions defined on a genus-one surface built from the coefficient functions of the Kronecker--Einsenstein series. We construct two classes of worldsheet functions whose properties lead to several simplifying features within our description of one-loop correlators with the pure-spinor formalism. The first class is described by functions with prescribed monodromies, whose characteristic shuffle-symmetry property leads to a Lie-polynomial structure when multiplied by the local superfields from part I of this series. The second class is given by so-called generalized elliptic integrands (GEIs) that are constructed using the same combinatorial patterns of the BRST pseudo-invariant superfields from part I. Both of them lead to compact and combinatorially rich expressions for the correlators in part III. The identities obeyed by the two classes of worldsheet functions exhibit striking parallels with those of the superfield kinematics. We will refer to this phenomenon as a duality between worldsheet functions and kinematics.

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arXiv2019

Towards the n-point one-loop superstring amplitude III: One-loop correlators and their double-copy structure

In this final part of a series of three papers, we will assemble supersymmetric expressions for one-loop correlators in pure-spinor superspace that are BRST invariant, local, and single valued. A key driving force in this construction is the generalization of a so far unnoticed property at tree level; the correlators have the symmetry structure akin to Lie polynomials. One-loop correlators up to seven points are presented in a variety of representations manifesting different subsets of their defining properties. These expressions are related via identities obeyed by the kinematic superfields and worldsheet functions spelled out in the first two parts of this series and reflecting a duality between the two kinds of ingredients. Interestingly, the expression for the eight-point correlator following from our method seems to capture correctly all the dependence on the worldsheet punctures but leaves undetermined the coefficient of the holomorphic Eisenstein series ${\rm G}_4$. By virtue of chiral splitting, closed-string correlators follow from the double copy of the open-string results.

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arXiv2019

Algorithmic construction of SYM multiparticle superfields in the BCJ gauge

We write down closed formulas for all necessary steps to obtain multiparticle super Yang--Mills superfields in the so-called BCJ gauge. The superfields in this gauge have obvious applications in the quest for finding BCJ-satisfying representations of amplitudes. As a benefit of having these closed formulas, we identify the explicit finite gauge transformation responsible for attaining the BCJ gauge. To do this, several combinatorial maps on words are introduced and associated identities rigorously proven.

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arXiv2018

Semi-abelian Z-theory: NLSM+phi^3 from the open string

We continue our investigation of Z-theory, the second double-copy component of open-string tree-level interactions besides super-Yang-Mills (sYM). We show that the amplitudes of the extended non-linear sigma model (NLSM) recently considered by Cachazo, Cha, and Mizera are reproduced by the leading alpha'-order of Z-theory amplitudes in the semi-abelian case. The extension refers to a coupling of NLSM pions to bi-adjoint scalars, and the semi-abelian case involves to a partial symmetrization over one of the color orderings that characterize the Z-theory amplitudes. Alternatively, the partial symmetrization corresponds to a mixed interaction among abelian and non-abelian states in the underlying open-superstring amplitude. We simplify these permutation sums via monodromy relations which greatly increase the efficiency in extracting the alpha'-expansion of these amplitudes. Their alpha'-corrections encode higher-derivative interactions between NLSM pions and bi-colored scalars all of which obey the duality between color and kinematics. Through double-copy, these results can be used to generate the predictions of supersymmetric Dirac-Born-Infeld-Volkov-Akulov theory coupled with sYM as well as a complete tower of higher-order alpha'-corrections.

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arXiv2018

Double-Copy Structure of One-Loop Open-String Amplitudes

In this Letter, we provide evidence for a new double-copy structure in one-loop amplitudes of the open superstring. Their integrands with respect to the moduli space of genus-one surfaces are cast into a form where gauge-invariant kinematic factors and certain functions of the punctures -- so-called generalized elliptic integrands -- enter on completely symmetric footing. In particular, replacing the generalized elliptic integrands by a second copy of kinematic factors maps one-loop open-string correlators to gravitational matrix elements of the higher-curvature operator R^4.

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arXiv2017

Abelian Z-theory: NLSM amplitudes and alpha'-corrections from the open string

In this paper we derive the tree-level S-matrix of the effective theory of Goldstone bosons known as the non-linear sigma model (NLSM) from string theory. This novel connection relies on a recent realization of tree-level open-superstring S-matrix predictions as a double copy of super-Yang-Mills theory with Z-theory --- the collection of putative scalar effective field theories encoding all the alpha'-dependence of the open superstring. Here we identify the color-ordered amplitudes of the NLSM as the low-energy limit of abelian Z-theory. This realization also provides natural higher-derivative corrections to the NLSM amplitudes arising from higher powers of alpha' in the abelian Z-theory amplitudes, and through double copy also to Born-Infeld and Volkov-Akulov theories. The Kleiss-Kuijf and Bern-Carrasco-Johansson relations obeyed by Z-theory amplitudes thereby apply to all alpha'-corrections of the NLSM. As such we naturally obtain a cubic-graph parameterization for the abelian Z-theory predictions whose kinematic numerators obey the duality between color and kinematics to all orders in alpha'.

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arXiv2017

Elliptic multiple zeta values and one-loop superstring amplitudes

We investigate iterated integrals on an elliptic curve, which are a natural genus-one generalization of multiple polylogarithms. These iterated integrals coincide with the multiple elliptic polylogarithms introduced by Brown and Levin when constrained to the real line. At unit argument they reduce to an elliptic analogue of multiple zeta values, whose network of relations we start to explore. A simple and natural application of this framework are one-loop scattering amplitudes in open superstring theory. In particular, elliptic multiple zeta values are a suitable language to express their low energy limit. Similar to the techniques available at tree-level, our formalism allows to completely automatize the calculation.

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arXiv2017

Non-abelian $Z$-theory: Berends-Giele recursion for the $α'$-expansion of disk integrals

We present a recursive method to calculate the $α'$-expansion of disk integrals arising in tree-level scattering of open strings which resembles the approach of Berends and Giele to gluon amplitudes. Following an earlier interpretation of disk integrals as doubly partial amplitudes of an effective theory of scalars dubbed as $Z$-theory, we pinpoint the equation of motion of $Z$-theory from the Berends-Giele recursion for its tree amplitudes. A computer implementation of this method including explicit results for the recursion up to order $α'^7$ is made available on the website http://repo.or.cz/BGap.git

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arXiv2016

Berends-Giele recursion for double-color-ordered amplitudes

Tree-level double-color-ordered amplitudes are computed using Berends--Giele recursion relations applied to the bi-adjoint cubic scalar theory. The standard notion of Berends--Giele currents is generalized to double-currents and their recursions are derived from a perturbiner expansion of linearized fields that solve the non-linear field equations. Two applications are given. Firstly, we prove that the entries of the inverse KLT matrix are equal to Berends--Giele double-currents (and are therefore easy to compute). And secondly, a simple formula to generate tree-level BCJ-satisfying numerators for arbitrary multiplicity is proposed by evaluating the field-theory limit of tree-level string amplitudes for various color orderings using double-color-ordered amplitudes.

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arXiv2016

One-loop superstring six-point amplitudes and anomalies in pure spinor superspace

We present the massless six-point one-loop amplitudes in the open and closed superstring using BRST cohomology arguments from the pure spinor formalism. The hexagon gauge anomaly is traced back to a class of kinematic factors in pure spinor superspace which were recently introduced as BRST pseudo-invariants. This complements previous work where BRST invariance arguments were used to derive the non-anomalous part of the amplitude. The associated worldsheet functions are non-singular and demonstrated to yield total derivatives on moduli space upon gauge variation. These cohomology considerations yield an efficient organizing principle for closed-string amplitudes that match expectations from S-duality in the low-energy limit.

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arXiv2016

Non-linear gauge transformations in $D=10$ SYM theory and the BCJ duality

Recent progress on scattering amplitudes in super Yang--Mills and superstring theory benefitted from the use of multiparticle superfields. They universally capture tree-level subdiagrams, and their generating series solve the non-linear equations of ten-dimensional super Yang--Mills. We provide simplified recursions for multiparticle superfields and relate them to earlier representations through non-linear gauge transformations of their generating series. In this work we discuss the gauge transformations which enforce their Lie symmetries as suggested by the Bern-Carrasco-Johansson duality between color and kinematics. Another gauge transformation due to Harnad and Shnider is shown to streamline the theta-expansion of multiparticle superfields, bypassing the need to use their recursion relations beyond the lowest components. The findings of this work tremendously simplify the component extraction from kinematic factors in pure spinor superspace.

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arXiv2016

Berends-Giele recursions and the BCJ duality in superspace and components

The recursive method of Berends and Giele to compute tree-level gluon amplitudes is revisited using the framework of ten-dimensional super Yang-Mills. First we prove that the pure spinor formula to compute SYM tree amplitudes derived in 2010 reduces to the standard Berends-Giele formula from the 80s when restricted to gluon amplitudes and additionally determine the fermionic completion. Second, using BRST cohomology manipulations in superspace, alternative representations of the component amplitudes are explored and the Bern-Carrasco-Johansson relations among partial tree amplitudes are derived in a novel way. Finally, it is shown how the supersymmetric components of manifestly local BCJ-satisfying tree-level numerators can be computed in a recursive fashion.

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arXiv2015

Two-loop five-point amplitudes of super Yang-Mills and supergravity in pure spinor superspace

Supersymmetric integrands for the two-loop five-point amplitudes in ten-dimensional super Yang--Mills and type II supergravity are proposed. The kinematic numerators are manifestly local and satisfy the duality between color and kinematics described by Bern, Carrasco and Johansson. Our results are expected to reproduce the integrated two-loop amplitudes in dimensions $D<7$. The UV divergence in the critical dimension $D=7$ matches the low-energy limit of the corresponding superstring amplitudes and is written in terms of SYM tree amplitudes.

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arXiv2015

A solution to the non-linear equations of D=10 super Yang-Mills theory

In this letter, we present a formal solution to the non-linear field equations of ten-dimensional super Yang--Mills theory. It is assembled from products of linearized superfields which have been introduced as multiparticle superfields in the context of superstring perturbation theory. Their explicit form follows recursively from the conformal field theory description of the gluon multiplet in the pure spinor superstring. Furthermore, superfields of higher mass dimensions are defined and their equations of motion spelled out.

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arXiv2015

The closed-string 3-loop amplitude and S-duality

The low-energy limit of the four-point 3-loop amplitude (including its overall coefficient) is computed in both type IIA and IIB superstring theories using the pure spinor formalism. The result is shown to agree with the prediction of the coefficient for the type IIB $D^6 R^4$ interaction made by Green and Vanhove based on S-duality considerations.

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arXiv2015

The two-loop superstring five-point amplitude and S-duality

The low-energy limit of the massless two-loop five-point amplitudes for both type IIA and type IIB superstrings is computed with the pure spinor formalism and its overall coefficient determined from first principles. For the type IIB theory, the five-graviton amplitude is found to be proportional to its tree-level counterpart at the corresponding order in $α'$. Their ratio ties in with expectations based on S-duality since it matches the same modular function $E_{5/2}$ which relates the two-loop and tree-level four-graviton amplitudes. For R-symmetry violating states, the ratio between tree-level and two-loop amplitudes at the same $α'$-order carries an additional factor of $-3/5$. Its S-duality origin can be traced back to a modular form derived from $E_{5/2}$.

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arXiv2014

Towards one-loop SYM amplitudes from the pure spinor BRST cohomology

In this paper, we outline a method to compute supersymmetric one-loop integrands in ten-dimensional SYM theory. It relies on the constructive interplay between their cubic-graph organization and BRST invariance of the underlying pure spinor superstring description. The five- and six-point amplitudes are presented in a manifestly local form where the kinematic dependence is furnished by BRST-covariant expressions in pure spinor superspace. At five points, the local kinematic numerators are shown to satisfy the BCJ duality between color and kinematics leading to supergravity amplitudes as a byproduct. At six points, the sources of the hexagon anomaly are identified in superspace as systematic obstructions to BRST invariance. Our results are expected to reproduce any integrated SYM amplitude in dimensions $D< 8$.

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arXiv2014

The Structure of n-Point One-Loop Open Superstring Amplitudes

In this article we present the worldsheet integrand for one-loop amplitudes in maximally supersymmetric superstring theory involving any number n of massless open string states. The polarization dependence is organized into the same BRST invariant kinematic combinations which also govern the leading string correction to tree level amplitudes. The dimensions of the bases for both the kinematics and the associated worldsheet integrals is found to be the unsigned Stirling number S_3^{n-1} of first kind. We explain why the same combinatorial structures govern on the one hand finite one-loop amplitudes of equal helicity states in pure Yang Mills theory and on the other hand the color tensors at quadratic alpha prime order of the color dressed tree amplitude.

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