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Gabriel Menezes

Publications and source records attributed to Gabriel Menezes.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

$w_{1+\infty}$ as the Frame Algebra of Kerr Soft Dressing

The Veneziano--Vilkovisky supertranslation is the residual large diffeomorphism relating the canonical Bondi frame to the intrinsic frame of the scattering bodies. We show it leads a tower selected by the exponentiating soft expansion, the object generating the Kerr multipoles at three points. Since \(e^{\eta\omega a\cdot q}\) splits into even and odd parts, the tower alternates parity, and for aligned spin we solve it to all orders in hyperbolic integrals. After a chiral projection its composition law is the classical $w_{1+\infty}$ bracket: the physical content we assign to that algebra.

hep-th

Kerr Soft Dressing and the $w_{1+\infty}$ Frame Algebra at Null Infinity

We construct the charge-generated intrinsic/canonical frame dictionary associated with the Kerr-selected soft dressing. Starting from the VV supertranslation, we formulate the higher-spin problem as an inverse problem at null infinity: the soft kernel ${\mathcal K}^{(s,0)}_{AB}[t]$, built from the parity-adapted maximally longitudinal scalar $\chi^{(s)}_t$, is matched to the Kerr-selected exponentiating projection of the universal soft contribution, thereby determining one parity component of the generator $t^{A_1\cdots A_s}$. Helicity conjugation fixes which one: the exponentiating source obeys $\overline{S^{(s)}_{+,{\rm exp}}}=(-1)^sS^{(s)}_{-,{\rm exp}}$, so the tower fixes the electric projection of the source at even levels and the magnetic projection at odd ones, matching the alternation of the Kerr mass and current moments; for aligned spin the projection is exhaustive and we solve the tower in closed form. The prescription reproduces the VV supertranslation at leading order and fixes the curl, not the divergence, of a smooth generalized-BMS vector at subleading order. The reason for the matching is physical: the same exponentiating soft factor is the classical limit of the Guevara--Ochirov--Vines spinning three-point operator and generates the Kerr multipole tower. We explain the corresponding hard flux charges and show how their external-state action gives the Ward representation of the soft theorem. The polynomial Poisson algebra on $T^\ast S^2$, with local $w_{1+\infty}$-type reductions, then acts on these frame-changing generators; it does not close on the Kerr-selected data alone. This gives the physical role of the $w_{1+\infty}$-like structure in Kerr black-hole scattering: it moves the intrinsic/canonical dictionary. Its observable imprint begins with displacement memory at $s=0$ and spin memory at $s=1$, followed by higher electric and magnetic memory moments.

hep-th

NLO Angular Impulse and Leading Singularities to all orders in spin for Kerr Black Holes

We compute the next-to-leading order (NLO) angular impulse (spin kick) in the scattering of Kerr black holes using the Kosower--Maybee--O'Connell (KMOC) formalism. Our approach is based on on-shell scattering amplitudes and leading singularities, allowing for a direct extraction of classical observables from quantum amplitudes. We derive compact expressions for the spin-dependent angular impulse valid to all orders in the spin variables at the integrand level, and show that these results reduce to known expressions in the appropriate limits. We perform detailed consistency checks: the conservative result preserves both the covariant spin supplementary condition and the spin magnitude through 2PM order, and the quadratic-in-spin conservative result agrees with existing radial-action results after translating between the direct KMOC spin kick and the radial-action observable. In addition, we extract the corresponding non-relativistic gravitational potential from the triangle leading singularities, obtaining a representation that resums spin effects and reproduces the known spin-orbit interaction at linear order. Our results provide further evidence for the efficiency of amplitude-based methods in classical gravitational dynamics, and highlight the KMOC formalism as a powerful framework for computing spin-dependent observables in binary black hole scattering.

hep-th

Gravitational Polarizability of Schwarzschild Black Holes

The linear response of a Schwarzschild black hole to an external quadrupolar perturbation is studied in analogy to a mechanical electrodynamical system, with the goal to describe the gravitational polarizability. Its causality properties imply dispersion relations that relate fluctuation and dissipative properties. We review and combine results obtained via the Regge-Wheeler equation on one side and a perturbative, worldline effective field theory description on the other, obtaining a consistent description of the dispersion relations for the gravitational polarizability of a Schwarzschild black hole. We find that the classical part of the 2-point correlation function of the black hole multipole depends on the boundary conditions of the space-time the black hole is immersed in, which is relevant for the dispersion relations considered.

gr-qc

Renormalization and running in the 2D $CP(1)$ model

We calculate the scattering amplitude in the two dimensional $CP(1)$ model in a regularization scheme independent way. When using cutoff regularization, a new Feynman rule from the path integral measure is required if one is to preserve the symmetry. The physical running of the coupling with renormalization scale arises from a UV finite Feynman integral in all schemes. We reproduce the usual result with asymptotic freedom, but the pathway to obtaining the beta function can be different in different schemes. We also comment on the way that this model evades the classic argument by Landau against asymptotic freedom in non-gauge theories.

hep-th

Compton scattering from superstrings

We propose a candidate Compton amplitude which is valid for any (integer) quantum spin and free from any spurious poles. We consider the cases of electromagnetism and gravity. We obtain such amplitudes by calculating the corresponding ones from superstring theory involving states on the leading Regge trajectory. To extract the associated field-theory amplitudes a few considerations in the form of simple physical constraints are required, such as: Soft momentum transfer, compactification of polarizations and consistent factorization in the physical channels. We believe the present exploration will be significantly relevant for the physics of compact binary systems with spin.

hep-th

Physical running of couplings in quadratic gravity

We argue that the well-known beta functions of quadratic gravity do not correspond to the physical dependence of scattering amplitudes on external momenta, and derive the correct physical beta functions. Asymptotic freedom turns out to be compatible with the absence of tachyons.

hep-th

Higher Derivative Sigma Models

We explore the nature of running couplings in the higher derivative linear and nonlinear sigma models and show that the results in dimensional regularization for the physical running couplings do not always match the values quoted in the literature. Heat kernel methods identify divergences correctly, but not all of these divergences are related to physical running couplings. Likewise the running found using the Functional Renormalization Group does not always appear as running couplings in physical processes, even for the case of logarithmic running. The basic coupling of the higher derivative SU(N) nonlinear sigma model does not run at all at one loop, in contrast to published claims for asymptotic freedom. At one loop we describe how to properly identify the physical running couplings in these theories, and provide revised numbers for the higher derivative nonlinear sigma model.

hep-th

Aspects of Conformal Gravity and Double Field Theory from a Double Copy Map

Double Field Theory (DFT) can be constructed as the double copy of a Yang-Mills theory. In this work we extend this statement by including higher-derivative terms. Starting from a four-derivative extension of Yang-Mills whose double copy is known to correspond to a conformal-gravity theory, we obtain a four-derivative theory formulated in double space, which in the pure gravity limit reduces to conformal gravity at quadratic order. This result reveals important aspects for the study of conformal symmetry in the context of DFT through double copy maps.

hep-th

Quantum gravity phenomenology from the perspective of quantum general relativity and quadratic gravity

Multi-messenger astronomy provides us with the possibility of discovering phenomenological signatures of quantum-gravity effects. This should be of paramount importance in the pursuit of an elusive quantum theory for the gravitational interactions. Here we discuss feasible explorations within the effective field theory treatment of general relativity. By exploring current techniques borrowed from modern amplitude methods, we calculate leading quantum corrections to the classical radiated momentum and spectral waveforms. The lessons drawn from these low-energy results are that phenomenological applications in gravitational-wave physics can be discussed in line with the effective field theory approach. In turn, we also examine possible phenomenological surveys from the perspective of a UV completion for quantum gravity which employs the metric as the fundamental dynamical variable, namely quadratic gravity. Being more specific, by resorting to the eikonal approximation, we compute the leading-order time delay/advance in the scattering of light by a heavy object and find a possible significant deviation from the standard general-relativity prediction. This allows us to probe causal uncertainty due to quantum fluctuations of the gravitational field as a genuine prediction from Planck-scale physics.

gr-qc

NLO deflections for spinning particles and Kerr black holes

We employ the "KMOC" formalism of [1] to compute classical momentum deflections of spinning bodies with arbitrary spin orientations up to next-to-leading order (one loop). We do this in electrodynamics and gravity. The final result, valid for generic masses, is true for all spins at tree level and up to second (fourth) spin order for the electromagnetic (gravity) case at one loop. Furthermore, emphasis is given to the probe limit scenario where our results extend to all spin orders in the heavy source, even at next-to-leading order. We carry out our computations both using a unitarity based framework and Feynman diagrammatic approach which relies on scattering amplitudes computed on fixed backgrounds.

hep-th

Leading singularities in higher-derivative Yang-Mills theory and quadratic gravity

In this work we explore general leading singularities of one-loop amplitudes in higher-derivative Yang-Mills and quadratic gravity. These theories are known to possess propagators which contain quadratic and quartic momentum dependence, which leads to the presence of an unstable ghostlike resonance. However, unitarity cuts are not to be taken through unstable particles and therefore unitarity is still satisfied. On the other hand, this could engender issues when calculating leading singularities which are generalizations of unitarity cuts. Nevertheless, we will show with explicit examples how leading singularities are still well defined and accordingly they are able to capture relevant information on the analytic structure of amplitudes in such higher-derivative theories. We discuss some simple one-loop amplitudes which clarify these features.

hep-th

On Quadratic Gravity

We provide a brief overview of what is known about Quadratic Gravity, which includes terms quadratic in the curvatures in the fundamental action. This is proposed as a renormalizeable UV completion for quantum gravity which continues to use the metric as the fundamental dynamical variable. However, there are unusual field-theoretic consequences because the propagators contain quartic momentum dependence. At the present stage of our understanding, Quadratic Gravity continues to be a viable candidate for a theory of quantum gravity.

hep-th

Color-kinematics duality, double copy and the unitarity method for higher-derivative QCD and quadratic gravity

Here we discuss color-kinematics duality for higher-derivative QCD-like amplitudes. We explicitly show that the duality still holds in this case and it can be instrumental in constructing the associated quadratic-gravity amplitudes by using the double-copy prescription. This allows one to drastically simplify calculations. We also evaluate some tree-level Compton scattering amplitudes in higher-derivative Yang-Mills and quadratic gravity coupled with matter. Furthermore, we illustrate the application of generalized unitarity method for both cases by studying a specific one-loop amplitude.

hep-th

Generalized unitarity method for unstable particles

In theories with unstable particles, unitarity is satisfied by the inclusion of only stable states in unitarity sums. Hence unitarity cuts are not to be taken through unstable particles. This raises a challenge to the generalized unitarity method, whose aim is to reconstruct amplitudes by analyzing sets of unitarity cuts. Nevertheless, under some general physical conditions, and perhaps some methodological modifications, we prove that the method is still reliable for one-loop amplitudes containing resonances. We discuss some simple examples which illustrate these features.

hep-th

Causality and gravity

We show how uncertainty in the causal structure of field theory is essentially inevitable when one includes quantum gravity. This includes the fact that lightcones are ill-defined in such a theory. This effect is small in the effective field theory regime, where it it independent of the UV completion of the theory, but grows with energy and represents an unknown uncertainty for a generic UV completion. We include details of the causality uncertainty which arises in a particular UV completion, i.e. quadratic gravity. We describe how the mechanisms uncovered in the effective field theory treatment, and some of those in quadratic gravity, could be common features of quantum gravity.

hep-th

The Ostrogradsky instability can be overcome by quantum physics

In theories with higher time derivatives, the Hamiltonian analysis of Ostrogradsky predicts an instability. However, this Hamiltonian treatment does not correspond the way that these theories are treated in quantum field theory, and the instability may be avoided in at least some cases. We present a very simple model which illustrates these features.

hep-th

Quantum causality and the arrows of time and thermodynamics

In the understanding of the fundamental interactions, the origin of an arrow of time is viewed as problematic. However, quantum field theory has an arrow of causality, which tells us which time direction is the past lightcone and which is the future. This direction is tied to the conventions used in the quantization procedures. The different possible causal directions have related physics - in this sense they are covariant under time-reversal. However, only one causal direction emerges for a given set of conventions. This causal arrow tells us the direction that scattering reactions proceed. The time direction of scattering in turn tells us the time direction for which entropy increases - the so-called arrow of thermodynamics. This connection is overlooked in most discussions of the arrow of time.

quant-ph