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Lance Dixon

Publications and source records attributed to Lance Dixon.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2017

Two-Loop Renormalization of Quantum Gravity Simplified

The coefficient of the dimensionally regularized two-loop R^3 divergence of (nonsupersymmetric) gravity theories has recently been shown to change when non-dynamical three forms are added to the theory, or when a pseudo-scalar is replaced by the anti-symmetric two-form field to which it is dual. This phenomenon involves evanescent operators, whose matrix elements vanish in four dimensions, including the Gauss-Bonnet operator which is also connected to the trace anomaly. On the other hand, these effects appear to have no physical consequences in renormalized scattering processes. In particular, the dependence of the two-loop four-graviton scattering amplitude on the renormalization scale is simple. In this paper, we explain this result for any minimally-coupled massless gravity theory with renormalizable matter interactions by using unitarity cuts in four dimensions and never invoking evanescent operators.

hep-th↗
arXiv2015

Evanescent Effects Can Alter Ultraviolet Divergences in Quantum Gravity without Physical Consequences

Evanescent operators such as the Gauss-Bonnet term have vanishing perturbative matrix elements in exactly D=4 dimensions. Similarly, evanescent fields do not propagate in D=4; a three-form field is in this class, since it is dual to a cosmological-constant contribution. In this Letter, we show that evanescent operators and fields modify the leading ultraviolet divergence in pure gravity. To analyze the divergence, we compute the two-loop identical-helicity four-graviton amplitude and determine the coefficient of the associated (non-evanescent) R^3 counterterm studied long ago by Goroff and Sagnotti. We compare two pairs of theories that are dual in D=4: gravity coupled to nothing or to three-form matter, and gravity coupled to zero-form or to two-form matter. Duff and van Nieuwenhuizen showed that, curiously, the one-loop conformal anomaly --- the coefficient of the Gauss-Bonnet operator --- changes under p-form duality transformations. We concur, and also find that the leading R^3 divergence changes under duality transformations. Nevertheless, in both cases the physical renormalized two-loop identical-helicity four-graviton amplitude can be chosen to respect duality. In particular, its renormalization-scale dependence is unaltered.

hep-th↗
arXiv2011

Amplitudes and Ultraviolet Behavior of N=8 Supergravity

In this contribution we describe computational tools that permit the evaluation of multi-loop scattering amplitudes in N=8 supergravity, in terms of amplitudes in N=4 super-Yang-Mills theory. We also discuss the remarkable ultraviolet behavior of N=8 supergravity, which follows from these amplitudes, and is as good as that of N=4 super-Yang-Mills theory through at least four loops.

hep-th↗
arXiv2005

Radiative Corrections to the Azimuthal Asymmetry in Transversely Polarized Moller Scattering

Experiment E158 at SLAC can measure an azimuthal asymmetry in single-spin, transversely polarized Moller scattering, e^{-\uparrow} e^- -> e^- e^-, which arises from a QED rescattering phase. We recompute the leading-order (one-loop) asymmetry, confirming previous results, and calculate the leading logarithmic QED corrections due to initial-state radiation from the beam and target electrons, and due to final-state radiation. The size of these radiative corrections is quite sensitive to experimental details, such as the acceptance in energy and in polar angle of the scattered electron. For E158, the corrections are modest, increasing the parts-per-million asymmetry by roughly 1 percent.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2004

High-precision QCD at hadron colliders: electroweak gauge boson rapidity distributions at NNLO

We compute the rapidity distributions of W and Z bosons produced at the Tevatron and the LHC through next-to-next-to leading order in QCD. Our results demonstrate remarkable stability with respect to variations of the factorization and renormalization scales for all values of rapidity accessible in current and future experiments. These processes are therefore ``gold-plated'': current theoretical knowledge yields QCD predictions accurate to better than one percent. These results strengthen the proposal to use W and Z production to determine parton-parton luminosities and constrain parton distribution functions at the LHC. For example, LHC data should easily be able to distinguish the central parton distribution fit obtained by MRST from that obtained by Alekhin.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2003

Dilepton rapidity distribution in the Drell-Yan process at NNLO in QCD

We compute the rapidity distribution of the virtual photon produced in the Drell-Yan process through next-to-next-to-leading order in perturbative QCD. We introduce a powerful new method for calculating differential distributions in hard scattering processes. This method is based upon a generalization of the optical theorem; it allows the integration-by-parts technology developed for multi-loop diagrams to be applied to non-inclusive phase-space integrals, and permits a high degree of automation. We apply our results to the analysis of fixed target experiments.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2003

Di-photon production at the LHC

The standard model production of two photons is one of the most important backgrounds to light Higgs boson production at the LHC. In this talk we discuss the di-photon background, with emphasis on the effects of the recently calculated next-to-leading-order (NLO) corrections to the gluon-gluon-initiated component. We find that the $K$-factor for this component is smaller than that for the analogous $gg\to H$ process, and that the correction to the total irreducible di-photon production is modest. We also investigate ways to enhance the statistical significance of the Higgs signal in the $γγ$ channel.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2003

Resonance-continuum interference in the di-photon Higgs signal at the LHC

A low mass Standard Model Higgs boson should be visible at the Large Hadron Collider through its production via gluon-gluon fusion and its decay to two photons. We compute the interference of this resonant process, gg -> H -> gamma gamma, with the continuum QCD background, gg -> gamma gamma induced by quark loops. Helicity selection rules suppress the effect, which is dominantly due to the imaginary part of the two-loop gg -> gamma gamma scattering amplitude. The interference is destructive, but only of order 5% in the Standard Model, which is still below the 10-20% present accuracy of the total cross section prediction. We comment on the potential size of such effects in other Higgs models.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2002

The Di-Photon Background to a Light Higgs Boson at the LHC

Recent years have seen a significant advance in our ability to calculate two-loop matrix elements. In this talk we describe an application of this breakthrough to improve our understanding of the background to the search for a light Higgs boson at the LHC. In particular, we focus on the QCD corrections to the gluon fusion subprocess gg to gamma gamma, which forms an important component of the background in the di-photon channel. We find that the K factor for this subprocess is significantly smaller than estimated previously.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2002

NLO Higgs boson rapidity distribution at hadron colliders

We describe a new method, based on an extension of the unitarity cutting rules proposed earlier, which is very efficient for the algorithmic evaluation of phase-space integrals for various differential distributions. As a first application, we compute the next-to-leading order normalized rapidity distribution of the CP-even and the CP-odd Higgs boson produced in hadron collisions through gluon fusion. We work in the heavy top-quark approximation; we find that the NLO corrections at the LHC are approximately 5% in the zero rapidity region.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2002

Isolating a light Higgs boson from the di-photon background at the LHC

We compute the QCD corrections to the gluon fusion subprocess gg to gamma gamma, which forms an important component of the background to the search for a light Higgs boson at the LHC. We study the dependence of the improved pp to gamma gamma X background calculation on the factorization and renormalization scales, on various choices for photon isolation cuts, and on the rapidities of the photons. We also investigate ways to enhance the statistical significance of the Higgs signal in the di-photon channel.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2002

Two-Loop Helicity Amplitudes for Gluon-Gluon Scattering in QCD and Supersymmetric Yang-Mills Theory

We present the two-loop helicity amplitudes for the scattering of two gluons into two gluons in QCD, which are relevant for next-to-next-to-leading order corrections to jet production at hadron colliders. We give the results in the `t Hooft-Veltman and four-dimensional helicity variants of dimensional regularization. Summing our expressions over helicities and colors, and converting to conventional dimensional regularization, gives results in complete agreement with those of Glover, Oleari and Tejeda-Yeomans. We also present the amplitudes for 2 to 2 scattering in pure N=1 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2000

Recalculation of Proton Compton Scattering in Perturbative QCD

At very high energy and wide angles, Compton scattering on the proton (gamma p -> gamma p) is described by perturbative QCD. The perturbative QCD calculation has been performed several times previously, at leading twist and at leading order in alpha_s, with mutually inconsistent results, even when the same light-cone distribution amplitudes have been employed. We have recalculated the helicity amplitudes for this process, using contour deformations to evaluate the singular integrals over the light-cone momentum fractions. We do not obtain complete agreement with any previous result. Our results are closest to those of the most recent previous computation, differing significantly for just one of the three independent helicity amplitudes, and only for backward scattering angles. We present results for the unpolarized cross section, and for three different polarization asymmetries. We compare the perturbative QCD predictions for these observables with those of the handbag and diquark models. In order to reduce uncertainties associated with alpha_s and the three-quark wave function normalization, we have normalized the Compton cross section using the proton elastic form factor. The theoretical predictions for this ratio are about an order of magnitude below existing experimental data.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1999

New Color Decompositions for Gauge Amplitudes at Tree and Loop Level

Recently, a color decomposition using structure constants was introduced for purely gluonic tree amplitudes, in a compact form involving only the linearly independent subamplitudes. We give two proofs that this decomposition holds for an arbitrary number of gluons. We also present and prove similar decompositions at one loop, both for pure gluon amplitudes and for amplitudes with an external quark-antiquark pair.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1995

Event Handedness in $e^+e^-$ Annihilation to Three Jets

We discuss rescattering effects that can be measured in $e^+e^-$ annihilation to three jets through a single gauge boson, by using triple product (``event handedness'') correlations of the $Z$ ($γ^*$) polarization with jet momenta. The gauge boson polarization may be produced either by polarized beams or through the natural polarization (left-right asymmetry) of the $Z$. QCD rescattering does not generate triple product correlations at one loop for massless quarks. We therefore calculate the QCD contribution for massive quarks, as well as the contribution of $W$ and $Z$ exchange loops for massless quarks. Due to various cancellations, the standard model predictions for triple-product correlations at the $Z$ are very small, making such measurements potentially sensitive to physics beyond the standard model. For example, the effects of a new gauge boson that couples only to baryon number may be larger than the standard model contributions; however the effects would probably still be too small to effectively constrain it.

hep-ph↗