arXiv subjects

David Skinner

Publications and source records attributed to David Skinner.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Towards a Carrollian Description of Yang-Mills

We provide a theory defined purely on null infinity that describes Yang-Mills in the Minkowski space bulk. The dynamical field of our model is the characteristic data of the bulk gauge field, and the action combines an electric branch Carrollian kinetic term with non-local interactions of MHV type that link different points on the celestial sphere. We explicitly show how this theory recovers all MHV and NMHV tree amplitudes in Yang-Mills, and outline how arbitrary tree amplitudes may be obtained from its Feynman diagram expansion. The detailed expression we find for the NMHV amplitude appears to be new.

hep-th↗

arXiv2026

Single-minus graviton tree amplitudes are nonzero

Single-minus tree-level $n$-graviton scattering amplitudes are revisited. Often presumed to vanish, they are shown here to be nonvanishing for certain "half-collinear" configurations existing in Klein space or for complexified momenta. A Berends-Giele recursion relation for these amplitudes is derived and solved in a form involving a sum over trees. In a restricted kinematic decay region, this solution simplifies significantly to an $(n{-}2)$-fold product of soft factors. It is further shown in this region that, combined with suitable analyticity assumptions, the $n$-graviton amplitude is generated by a recursive $\mathcal{L}w_{1+\infty}$ Ward identity with the three-graviton amplitude as a seed.

hep-th↗

arXiv2026

Single-minus gluon tree amplitudes are nonzero

Single-minus tree-level $n$-gluon scattering amplitudes are reconsidered. Often presumed to vanish, they are shown here to be nonvanishing for certain "half-collinear" configurations existing in Klein space or for complexified momenta. We derive a piecewise-constant closed-form expression for the decay of a single minus-helicity gluon into $n-1$ plus-helicity gluons as a function of their momenta. This formula nontrivially satisfies multiple consistency conditions including Weinberg's soft theorem.

hep-th↗

arXiv2025

Chiral holography

Using twistor string theory, we engineer a gravitational holographic dual of the self-dual sector of $\mathcal{N}=4$ super Yang-Mills theory. This provides a top-down example of holography at zero 't Hooft coupling. Our holographic dictionary operates at the level of D-branes wrapping twistor lines and generalizes the D-instanton prescription used to compute scattering amplitudes. As an application, we study the correlators of determinant operators that act as generating functions of half-BPS operators in the self-dual theory. We show that these correlators are dual to configurations of giant gravitons in the bulk.

hep-th↗

arXiv2025

Non-Commutative Gauge Theory at the Beach

The KP equation is perhaps the most famous example of a three-dimensional integrable system. Here we show that a non-commutative five-dimensional Chern-Simons theory living on the projective spinor bundle of three-dimensional space-time compactifies to a Lagrangian formulation of the KP equation. Essential to the definition of the theory is a 2-form pulled back from minitwistor space. The dispersionless limit of the KP equation is similarly described by Poisson-Chern-Simons theory. We further show that, consistent with integrability, all tree level amplitudes vanish. The universal vertex algebra living on a two-dimensional surface defect in $5d$ is $W_{1+\infty}$, and its operator products coincide with collinear splitting functions on space-time. Taking the dispersionless limit contracts the vertex algebra to $w_{1+\infty}$.

hep-th↗

arXiv2024

On AdS$_4$ deformations of celestial symmetries

Celestial holography has led to the discovery of new symmetry algebras arising from the study of collinear limits of perturbative gravity amplitudes in flat space. We explain from the twistor perspective how a non-vanishing cosmological constant $\Lambda$ naturally modifies the celestial chiral algebra. The cosmological constant deforms the Poisson bracket on twistor space, so the corresponding deformed algebra of Hamiltonians under the new bracket is automatically consistent. This algebra is equivalent to that recently found by Taylor and Zhu. We find a number of variations of the deformed algebra. We give the Noether charges arising from the expression of this algebra as a symmetry of the twistor action for self-dual gravity with cosmological constant.

hep-th↗

arXiv2023

The Celestial Chiral Algebra of Self-Dual Gravity on Eguchi-Hanson Space

We consider the twistor description of classical self-dual Einstein gravity in the presence of a defect operator wrapping a certain $\mathbb{CP}^1$. The backreaction of this defect deforms the flat twistor space to that of Eguchi-Hanson space. We show that the celestial chiral algebra of self-dual gravity on the Eguchi-Hanson background is likewise deformed to become the loop algebra of a certain scaling limit of the family of $W(\mu)$-algebras, where the scaling limit is controlled by the radius of the Eguchi-Hanson core. We construct this algebra by computing the Poisson algebra of holomorphic functions on the deformed twistor space, and check this result with a space-time calculation of the leading contribution to the gravitational splitting function. The loop algebra of a general $W(\mu)$-algebra (away from the scaling limit) similarly arises as the celestial chiral algebra of Moyal-deformed self-dual gravity on Eguchi-Hanson space. We also obtain corresponding results for self-dual Yang-Mills.

hep-th↗

arXiv2022

Moyal deformations, $W_{1+\infty}$ and celestial holography

We consider the Moyal deformation of self-dual gravity. In the conformal primary basis, holomorphic collinear limits of the amplitudes of this theory show that it enjoys a perturbatively exact symmetry algebra $LW_\wedge$ that generalises $Lw_\wedge$, the loop algebra of the wedge algebra of $w_{1+\infty}$, which appears in self-dual gravity.

hep-th↗

arXiv2022

Quantizing the non-linear graviton

We consider holomorphic Poisson-BF theory on twistor space. Classically, this describes self-dual Einstein gravity on space-time, but at the quantum level it is plagued by an anomaly. The anomaly corresponds to the fact that integrability of the self-dual vacuum Einstein equations does not survive in self-dual quantum gravity. We compute the anomaly polynomials in the Poisson-BF theory, as well as in this theory coupled to a holomorphic BF theory on twistor space describing self-dual Yang-Mills. We show that all anomalies may be cancelled by further coupling to a twistor field representing a type of axion on space-time. When the twistor anomalies are cancelled, all $n\geq4$-pt amplitudes vanish and integrability is restored.

hep-th↗

arXiv2022

The LBNL Superfacility Project Report

The Superfacility model is designed to leverage HPC for experimental science. It is more than simply a model of connected experiment, network, and HPC facilities; it encompasses the full ecosystem of infrastructure, software, tools, and expertise needed to make connected facilities easy to use. The three-year Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) Superfacility project was initiated in 2019 to coordinate work being performed at LBNL to support this model, and to provide a coherent and comprehensive set of science requirements to drive existing and new work. A key component of the project was the in-depth engagements with eight science teams that represent challenging use cases across the DOE Office of Science. By the close of the project, we met our project goal by enabling our science application engagements to demonstrate automated pipelines that analyze data from remote facilities at large scale, without routine human intervention. In several cases, we have gone beyond demonstrations and now provide production-level services. To achieve this goal, the Superfacility team developed tools, infrastructure, and policies for near-real-time computing support, dynamic high-performance networking, data management and movement tools, API-driven automation, HPC-scale notebooks via Jupyter, authentication using Federated Identity and container-based edge services supported. The lessons we learned during this project provide a valuable model for future large, complex, cross-disciplinary collaborations. There is a pressing need for a coherent computing infrastructure across national facilities, and LBNL's Superfacility project is a unique model for success in tackling the challenges that will be faced in hardware, software, policies, and services across multiple science domains.

cs.DC↗

arXiv2020

Ambitwistor Strings in Six and Five Dimensions

Ambitwistor strings are chiral (holomorphic) strings whose target is the space of complex null geodesics, ambitwistor space. We introduce twistor representations of ambitwistor space in 6 and 5 dimensions. In 6d the twistor representation is naturally conformally invariant. Anomaly cancellation leads to models that describe biadjoint scalar amplitudes and certain conformally invariant gauge and gravity theories, respectively of 4$^{\rm th}$ and 6$^{\rm th}$ order. There are three such models, reflecting triality for the conformal group SO(8) associated to these 6d models. On reduction to five dimensions, gauge anomaly cancellation requires supersymmetry and the resulting models describe maximally supersymmetric Yang-Mills and gravity. The twistor representation of these ambitwistor strings lead to formul{\ae} for maximally supersymmetric gauge and gravity amplitudes based on the polarized scattering equations in 5d, found earlier by the first two authors.

hep-th↗

arXiv2020

Twistors, the ASD Yang-Mills equations, and 4d Chern-Simons theory

We show that the approaches to integrable systems via 4d Chern-Simons theory and via symmetry reductions of the anti-self-dual Yang-Mills equations are closely related, at least classically. Following a suggestion of Kevin Costello, we start from holomorphic Chern-Simons theory on twistor space, defined with the help of a meromorphic (3,0)-form $\Omega$. If $\Omega$ is nowhere vanishing, it descends to a theory on 4d space-time with classical equations of motion equivalent to the anti-self-dual Yang-Mills equations. Examples include a 4d analogue of the Wess-Zumino-Witten model and a theory of a Lie algebra valued scalar with a cubic two derivative interaction. Under symmetry reduction, these yield actions for 2d integrable systems. On the other hand, performing the symmetry reduction directly on twistor space reduces holomorphic Chern-Simons theory to the 4d Chern-Simons theory with disorder defects studied by Costello & Yamazaki. Finally we show that a similar reduction by a single translation leads to a 5d partially holomorphic Chern-Simons theory describing the Bogomolny equations.

hep-th↗

arXiv2020

Ambitwistor Strings and the Scattering Equations on AdS$_3\times$S$^3$

We construct an ambitwistor string that describes Type II supergravity on AdS$_3\times$S$^3$ with pure NS flux. The background Einstein equations ensure that the model is anomaly free. The spectrum consists of supergravity fluctuations around this background, with no higher string states. This theory transforms the problem of computing $n$-point tree-level amplitudes on AdS$_3$ into that of understanding an $\mathfrak{sl}_2$ Gaudin integrable system, whose representations are determined by the dual boundary operators and whose spectral parameters correspond to the worldsheet insertion points. The scattering equations take a similar form to flat space, with $n(n-3)/2$ parameters $τ_{ij}$ parametrizing the eigenvalues of the Gaudin model.

hep-th↗

arXiv2019

Gauge Theory and Boundary Integrability II: Elliptic and Trigonometric Case

We consider the mixed topological-holomorphic Chern-Simons theory introduced by Costello, Yamazaki and Witten on a $\mathbb{Z}_2$ orbifold. We use this to construct semi-classical solutions of the boundary Yang-Baxter equation in the elliptic and trigonometric cases. A novel feature of the trigonometric case is that the $\mathbb{Z}_2$ action lifts to the gauge bundle in a $z$-dependent way. We construct several examples of $K$-matrices, and check they agree with cases appearing in the literature.

hep-th↗

arXiv2019

Gauge Theory and Boundary Integrability

We study the mixed topological / holomorphic Chern-Simons theory of Costello, Witten and Yamazaki on an orbifold $(Σ\times{\mathbb C})/{\mathbb Z}_2$, obtaining a description of lattice integrable systems in the presence of a boundary. By performing an order $\hbar$ calculation we derive a formula for the the asymptotic behaviour of $K$-matrices associated to rational, quasi-classical $R$-matrices. The ${\mathbb Z}_2$-action on $Σ\times {\mathbb C}$ fixes a line $L$, and line operators on $L$ are shown to be labelled by representations of the twisted Yangian. The OPE of such a line operator with a Wilson line in the bulk is shown to give the coproduct of the twisted Yangian. We give the gauge theory realisation of the Sklyanin determinant and related conditions in the $RTT$ presentation of the boundary Yang-Baxter equation.

hep-th↗

arXiv2018

Minitwistors and 3d Yang-Mills-Higgs theory

We construct a minitwistor action for Yang--Mills--Higgs theory in three dimensions. The Feynman diagrams of this action will construct perturbation theory around solutions of the Bogomolny equations in much the same way that MHV diagrams describe perturbation theory around the self--dual Yang Mills equations in four dimensions. We also provide a new formula for all tree amplitudes in YMH theory (and its maximally supersymmetric extension) in terms of degree d maps to minitwistor space. We demonstrate its relationship to the RSVW formula in four dimensions and show that it generates the correct MHV amplitudes at d=1 and factorizes correctly in all channels for all degrees.

hep-th↗

arXiv2017

A Gluing Operator for the Ambitwistor String

We present a new operator in the ambitwistor string which glues together correlators with fewer points or of lower genus. It underpins the recursive construction of tree-level CHY scattering amplitudes by Dolan \& Goddard, as well as the computation of loop integrands on a Riemann sphere by Geyer et al. The gluing operator is a tractable object due to the finiteness of the spectrum. In particular, we demonstrate how it gives rise to the complete one-loop integrand in SYM and SUGRA. The operator is conjectured to be the path integral incarnation of the ambitwistor string propagator, and to coincide with the field theory limit of the standard string theory propagator.

hep-th↗

arXiv2016

Twistor methods for AdS$_5$

We consider the application of twistor theory to five-dimensional anti-de Sitter space. The twistor space of AdS$_5$ is the same as the ambitwistor space of the four-dimensional conformal boundary; the geometry of this correspondence is reviewed for both the bulk and boundary. A Penrose transform allows us to describe free bulk fields, with or without mass, in terms of data on twistor space. Explicit representatives for the bulk-to-boundary propagators of scalars and spinors are constructed, along with twistor action functionals for the free theories. Evaluating these twistor actions on bulk-to-boundary propagators is shown to produce the correct two-point functions.

hep-th↗