arXiv subjects

Franz Herzog

Publications and source records attributed to Franz Herzog.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

On divergences in a four-derivative scalar field theory

We perform a detailed diagrammatic analysis of the renormalisation of a family of asymptotically free, shift-symmetric four-derivative scalar field theories introduced by Holdom in arXiv:2303.06723 and arXiv:2402.09223. We extend the renormalisation of the theory from one to three loops using both an $R^*$ method and an asymptotic expansion in momenta. We prove that the Euclidean correlators (or off-shell amplitudes) are IR finite, to all orders in perturbation theory, and derive a non-renormalisation theorem describing the all-order structure of the renormalisation constants. In particular, a purely cubic interaction is RG invariant and a perfect square Lagrangian density is preserved under renormalisation. The latter result is due to a Ward identity in a related $\textit{ gravitational}$ theory $-$ the conformally flat limit of quadratic gravity (CFQG). We show that the beta function for the perfect square theory maps exactly to that of an $O(2)$-symmetric, two-derivative, massless $ϕ^4$ theory at negative coupling. We verify this relationship explicitly up to three loops and thus determine the beta function and anomalous dimension for both the perfect square theory and CFQG to six loops.

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arXiv2025

Multi-loop spectra in general scalar EFTs and CFTs

We consider the most general effective field theory (EFT) Lagrangian with scalar fields and derivatives, and renormalise it to substantially higher loop order than existing results in the literature. EFT Lagrangians have phenomenological applications, for example by encoding corrections to the Standard Model from unknown new physics. At the same time, scalar EFTs capture the spectrum of Wilson--Fisher conformal field theories (CFTs) in $4-\varepsilon$ dimensions. Our results are enabled by a more efficient version of the $R^*$ method for renormalisation, in which the IR divergences are subtracted via a small-momentum asymptotic expansion. In particular, we renormalise the most general set of composite operators up to engineering dimension six and Lorentz rank two. We exhibit direct applications of our results to Ising ($Z_2$), $O(n)$, and hypercubic ($S_n \ltimes (Z_2)^n$) CFTs, relevant for a plethora of real-world critical phenomena. The computed scaling dimensions agree well with known non-perturbative results, and they lead to new predictions where such results do not yet exist. We thereby expand the understanding of generic EFTs and open new possibilities in diverse fields, such as the numerical conformal bootstrap.

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arXiv2025

Renormalization and non-renormalization of scalar EFTs at higher orders

We renormalize massless scalar effective field theories (EFTs) to higher loop orders and higher orders in the EFT expansion. To facilitate EFT calculations with the R* renormalization method, we construct suitable operator bases using Hilbert series and related ideas in commutative algebra and conformal representation theory, including their novel application to off-shell correlation functions. We obtain new results ranging from full one loop at mass dimension twelve to five loops at mass dimension six. We explore the structure of the anomalous dimension matrix with an emphasis on its zeros, and investigate the effects of conformal and orthonormal operators. For the real scalar, the zeros can be explained by a `non-renormalization' rule recently derived by Bern et al. For the complex scalar we find two new selection rules for mixing $n$- and $(n-2)$-field operators, with $n$ the maximal number of fields at a fixed mass dimension. The first appears only when the $(n-2)$-field operator is conformal primary, and is valid at one loop. The second appears in more generic bases, and is valid at three loops. Finally, we comment on how the Hilbert series we construct may be used to provide a systematic enumeration of a class of evanescent operators that appear at a particular mass dimension in the scalar EFT.

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arXiv2025

Tensor Reduction for Feynman Integrals with Lorentz and Spinor Indices

We present an efficient graphical approach to construct projectors for the tensor reduction of multi-loop Feynman integrals with both Lorentz and spinor indices in $D$ dimensions. An ansatz for the projectors is constructed making use of its symmetry properties via an orbit partition formula. The graphical approach allows to identify and enumerate the orbits in each case. For the case without spinor indices we find a 1 to 1 correspondence between orbits and integer partitions describing the cycle structure of certain bi-chord graphs. This leads to compact combinatorial formulae for the projector ansatz. With spinor indices the graph-structure becomes more involved, but the method is equally applicable. Our spinor reduction formulae are based on the antisymmetric basis of $γ$ matrices, and make use of their orthogonality property. We also provide a new compact formula to pass into the antisymmetric basis. We compute projectors for vacuum tensor Feynman integrals with up to 32 Lorentz indices and up to 4 spinor indices. We discuss how to employ the projectors in problems with external momenta.

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arXiv2025

OPITeR: A program for tensor reduction of multi-loop Feynman Integrals

We present OPITeR, a FORM program for the reduction of multi-loop tensor Feynman integrals. The program can handle tensors, including spinor indices, with rank of up to 20 and can deal with up to 8 independent external momenta. The reduction occurs in $D$ dimensions compatible with conventional dimensional regularization. The program is able to manifest symmetries of the integrand in the tensor reduced form.

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arXiv2024

The asymptotic Hopf Algebra of Feynman Integrals

The method of regions is an approach for developing asymptotic expansions of Feynman Integrals. We focus on expansions in Euclidean signature, where the method of regions can also be formulated as an expansion by subgraph. We show that for such expansions valid around small/large masses and momenta the graph combinatorial operations can be formulated in terms of what we call the asymptotic Hopf algebra. This Hopf algebra is closely related to the motic Hopf algebra underlying the $R^*$ operation, an extension of Bogoliubov's $R$ operation, to subtract both IR and UV divergences of Feynman integrals in the Euclidean. We focus mostly on the leading power, for which the Hopf algebra formulation is simpler. We uncover a close connection between Bogoliubov's $R$ operation in the Connes-Kreimer formulation and the remainder $\mathcal{R}$ of the series expansion, whose Hopf algebraic structure is identically formalised in the corresponding group of characters. While in the Connes-Kreimer formulation the UV counterterm is formalised in terms of a twisted antipode, we show that in the expansion by subgraph a similar role is played by the integrand Taylor operator. To discuss the structure of higher power expansions we introduce a novel Hopf monoid formulation.

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arXiv2024

Splitting amplitudes at N$^3$LO in QCD

In the limit where partons become collinear to each other, scattering amplitudes factorize into a product of universal, process-independent building blocks and scattering amplitudes involving fewer partons. We compute these universal building blocks -- known as splitting amplitudes -- for two collinear QCD partons up to third loop order in QCD. Our results describe arbitrary time-like splitting processes. Due to the violation of strict collinear factorization in space-like splitting processes, we specifically present space-like splitting amplitudes for three-parton QCD scattering amplitudes at third loop order. To achieve our results, we perform a collinear expansion of three-loop scattering amplitudes using a new expansion-by-subgraph technology, which is based on the method of regions.

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arXiv2024

Revealing Hidden Regions in Wide-Angle and Forward Scattering

We discuss a class of Feynman Integrals containing hidden regions that are not straightforwardly identified using the geometric, or Newton polytope, approach to the method of regions. Using Landau singularity analysis and existing analytic results, we study the appearance of such regions in wide-angle and forward scattering and discuss how they can be exposed in both the momentum and parametric representations. We demonstrate that in the strict on-shell limit such integrals contain Landau singularities that prevent their direct numerical evaluation in parameter space and describe how they can be re-parameterised and dissected to circumvent this problem.

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arXiv2024

Dissecting polytopes: Landau singularities and asymptotic expansions in $2\to 2$ scattering

Parametric representations of Feynman integrals have a key property: many, frequently all, of the Landau singularities appear as endpoint divergences. This leads to a geometric interpretation of the singularities as faces of Newton polytopes, which facilitates algorithmic evaluation by sector decomposition and asymptotic expansion by the method of regions. Here we identify cases where some singularities appear instead as pinches in parametric space for general kinematics, and we then extend the applicability of sector decomposition and the method of regions algorithms to such integrals, by dissecting the Newton polytope on the singular locus. We focus on $2\to 2$ massless scattering, where we show that pinches in parameter space occur starting from three loops in particular nonplanar graphs due to cancellation between terms of opposite sign in the second Symanzik polynomial. While the affected integrals cannot be evaluated by standard sector decomposition, we show how they can be computed by first linearising the graph polynomial and then splitting the integration domain at the singularity, so as to turn it into an endpoint divergence. Furthermore, we demonstrate that obtaining the correct asymptotic expansion of such integrals by the method of regions requires the introduction of new regions, which can be systematically identified as facets of the dissected polytope. In certain instances, these hidden regions exclusively govern the leading power behaviour of the integral. In momentum space, we find that in the on-shell expansion for wide-angle scattering the new regions are characterised by having two or more connected hard subgraphs, while in the Regge limit they are characterised by Glauber modes.

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arXiv2023

Single-soft emissions for amplitudes with two colored particles at three loops

We compute the three-loop correction to the universal single-soft emission current for the case of scattering amplitudes with two additional color-charged partons. We present results valid for QCD and $\mathcal{N}=4$ super-symmetric Yang-Mills theory. To achieve our results we develop a new integrand expansion technique for scattering amplitudes in the presence of soft emissions. Furthermore, we obtain contributions from single final-state parton matrix elements to the Higgs boson and Drell-Yan production cross section at next-to-next-to-next-to-next-to leading order (N$^4$LO) in perturbative QCD in the threshold limit.

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arXiv2023

Non-linear non-renormalization theorems

We study the mixing of operators under renormalization group flow in quantum theories, and prove a non-renormalization theorem at non-linear order. It dictates zeros up to a certain number of loops in anomalous dimension tensors that control, for example, the mixing of operators at order dimension six squared into dimension eight. We obtain new results at up to three loops for the mass dimension eight anomalous dimension tensor of $ϕ^4$ theory in $D=4-2\varepsilon$ dimensions and verify the zeros predicted by the theorem.

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arXiv2022

Four-loop large-n_f contributions to the non-singlet structure functions F_2 and F_L

We have calculated the n_f^2 and n_f^3 contributions to the flavour non-singlet structure functions F_2 and F_L in inclusive deep-inelastic scattering at the fourth order in the strong coupling alpha_s. The coefficient functions have been obtained by computing a very large number of Mellin-N moments using the method of differential equations, and then determining the analytic forms in N and Bjorken-x from these. Our new n_f^2 terms are numerically much larger than the n_f^3 leading large-nf parts which were already known; they agree with predictions of the threshold and high-energy resummations. Furthermore our calculation confirms the earlier determination of the four-loop n_f^2 part of the corresponding anomalous dimension. Via the no-pi^2 conjecture/theorem for Euclidean physical quantities, we predict the z4 n_f^3 part of the fifth-order anomalous dimension for the evolution of non-singlet quark distributions.

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arXiv2022

The on-shell expansion: from Landau equations to the Newton polytope

We study the application of the method of regions to Feynman integrals with massless propagators contributing to off-shell Green's functions in Minkowski spacetime (with non-exceptional momenta) around vanishing external masses, $p_i^2\to 0$. This on-shell expansion allows us to identify all infrared-sensitive regions at any power, in terms of infrared subgraphs in which a subset of the propagators become collinear to external lightlike momenta and others become soft. We show that each such region can be viewed as a solution to the Landau equations, or equivalently, as a facet in the Newton polytope constructed from the Symanzik graph polynomials. This identification allows us to study the properties of the graph polynomials associated with infrared regions, as well as to construct a graph-finding algorithm for the on-shell expansion, which identifies all regions using exclusively graph-theoretical conditions. We also use the results to investigate the analytic structure of integrals associated with regions in which every connected soft subgraph connects to just two jets. For such regions we prove that multiple on-shell expansions commute. This applies in particular to all regions in Sudakov form-factor diagrams as well as in any planar diagram.

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arXiv2022

Renormalization of gluonic leading-twist Operators in covariant Gauges

We provide the all-loop structure of gauge-variant operators required for the renormalisation of Green's functions with insertions of twist-two operators in Yang-Mills theory. Using this structure we work out an explicit basis valid up to 4-loop order for an arbitrary compact simple gauge group. To achieve this we employ a generalised gauge symmetry, originally proposed by Dixon and Taylor, which arises after adding to the Yang-Mills Lagrangian also operators proportional to its equation of motion. Promoting this symmetry to a generalised BRST symmetry allows to generate the ghost operator from a single exact operator in the BRST-generalised sense. We show that our construction complies with the theorems by Joglekar and Lee. We further establish the existence of a generalised anti-BRST symmetry which we employ to derive non-trivial relations among the anomalous dimension matrices of ghost and equation-of-motion operators. For the purpose of demonstration we employ the formalism to compute the N=2,4 Mellin moments of the gluonic splitting function up to 4 loops and its N=6 Mellin moment up to 3 loops, where we also take advantage of additional simplifications of the background field formalism.

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arXiv2020

Two- and three-loop anomalous dimensions of Weinberg's dimension-six CP-odd gluonic operator

We apply a fully automated extension of the $R^*$-operation capable of calculating higher-loop anomalous dimensions of n-point Green's functions of arbitrary, possibly non-renormalisable, local Quantum Field Theories. We focus on the case of the CP-violating Weinberg operator of the Standard Model Effective Field Theory whose anomalous dimension is so far known only at one loop. We calculate the two-loop anomalous dimension in full QCD and the three-loop anomalous dimensions in the limit of pure Yang-Mills theory. We find sizeable two-loop and large three-loop corrections, due to the appearance of a new quartic group invariant. We discuss phenomenological implications for electric dipole moments and future applications of the method.

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arXiv2020

One-loop Jet Functions by Geometric Subtraction

In factorization formulae for cross sections of scattering processes, final-state jets are described by jet functions, which are a crucial ingredient in the resummation of large logarithms. We present an approach to calculate generic one-loop jet functions, by using the geometric subtraction scheme. This method leads to local counterterms generated from a slicing procedure; and whose analytic integration is particularly simple. The poles are obtained analytically, up to an integration over the azimuthal angle for the observable-dependent soft counterterm. The poles depend only on the soft limit of the observable, characterized by a power law, and the finite term is written as a numerical integral. We illustrate our method by reproducing the known expressions for the jet function for angularities, the jet shape, and jets defined through a cone or $k_T$ algorithm. As a new result, we obtain the one-loop jet function for an angularity measurement in $e^+e^-$ collisions, that accounts for the formally power-suppressed but potentially large effect of recoil. An implementation of our approach is made available as the GOJet Mathematica package accompanying this paper.

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arXiv2020

The Hopf algebra structure of the $R^*$-operation

We give a Hopf-algebraic formulation of the $R^*$-operation, which is a canonical way to render UV and IR divergent Euclidean Feynman diagrams finite. Our analysis uncovers a close connection to Brown's Hopf algebra of motic graphs. Using this connection we are able to provide a verbose proof of the long observed 'commutativity' of UV and IR subtractions. We also give a new duality between UV and IR counterterms, which, entirely algebraic in nature, is formulated as an inverse relation on the group of characters of the Hopf algebra of log-divergent scaleless Feynman graphs. Many explicit examples of calculations with applications to infrared rearrangement are given.

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arXiv2018

Geometric IR subtraction for real radiation

A scheme is proposed for the subtraction of soft and collinear divergences present in massless real emission phase space integrals. The scheme is based on a local slicing procedure which utilises the soft and collinear factorisation properties of amplitudes to produce universal counter-terms whose analytic integration is relatively simple. We propose that this scheme can be promoted to a fully local subtraction method. As a first application the scheme is applied to establish a general pole formula for final state real radiation at NLO and NNLO in Yang Mills theory for arbitrary multiplicities. All required counter-terms are evaluated to all orders in the dimensional regulator in terms of $Γ$ - and ${}_pF_q$ hypergeometric - functions. As a proof of principle the poles in the dimensional regulator of the $H\to gggg$ double real emission contribution to the $H\to gg$ decay rate are reproduced.

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