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Marco S. Bianchi

Publications and source records attributed to Marco S. Bianchi.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Towards the exact Bremsstrahlung function of ABJM theory

We present the three-loop calculation of the Bremsstrahlung function associated to the 1/2-BPS cusp in ABJM theory, including color subleading corrections. Using the BPS condition we reduce the computation to that of a cusp with vanishing angle. We work within the framework of heavy quark effective theory (HQET) that further simplifies the analytic evaluation of the relevant cusp anomalous dimension in the near-BPS limit. The result passes nontrivial tests, such as exponentiation, and is in agreement with the conjecture made in [1] for the exact expression of the Bremsstrahlung function, based on the relation with fermionic latitude Wilson loops.

hep-th↗

The canonical form has got baubles

The method of differential equations in canonical form has proven a powerful tool for solving multiloop Feynman integrals. In this note we test this procedure away from four dimensions. Namely, we consider the simple example of a massless doublebox, expanded in dimensional regularization around six dimensions. We achieve a canonical form for the relevant master integrals and solve them in terms of harmonic polylogarithms up to transcendental order 9. The integral basis of uniform transcendentality requires increasing indices of propagators. According to the standard graphical jargon, this amounts to decorating the integrals with baubles, like on Christmas trees, or rather loops in this case. The results can be useful for studying amplitudes in six dimensions.

hep-th↗

A $QQ\to QQ$ planar doublebox in canonical form

We consider a planar doublebox with four massive external momenta and two massive internal propagators. We derive the system of differential equations for the relevant master integrals, cast it in canonical form, write it as a $d\log$ form and solve it in terms of iterated integrals up to depth four.

hep-ph↗

Framing and localization in Chern-Simons theories with matter

Supersymmetric localization provides exact results that should match QFT computations in some regularization scheme. The agreement is particularly subtle in three dimensions where complex answers from localization procedure sometimes arise. We investigate this problem by studying the expectation value of the 1/6 BPS Wilson loop in planar ABJ(M) theory at three loops in perturbation theory. We reproduce the corresponding term in the localization result and argue that it originates entirely from a non-trivial framing of the circular contour. Contrary to pure Chern-Simons theory, we point out that for ABJ(M) the framing phase is a non-trivial function of the couplings and that it potentially receives contributions from vertex-like diagrams. Finally, we briefly discuss the intimate link between the exact framing factor and the Bremsstrahlung function of the 1/2-BPS cusp.

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The quantum 1/2 BPS Wilson loop in ${\cal N}=4$ Chern-Simons-matter theories

In three dimensional ${\cal N}=4$ Chern-Simons-matter theories two independent fermionic Wilson loop operators can be defined, which preserve half of the supersymmetry charges and are cohomologically equivalent at classical level. We compute their three-loop expectation value in a convenient color sector and prove that the degeneracy is uplifted by quantum corrections. We expand the matrix model prediction in the same regime and by comparison we conclude that the quantum 1/2 BPS Wilson loop is the average of the two operators. We provide an all-loop argument to support this claim at any order. As a by-product, we identify the localization result at three loops as a correction to the framing factor induced by matter interactions. Finally, we comment on the quantum properties of the non-1/2 BPS Wilson loop operator defined as the difference of the two fermionic ones.

hep-th↗

An exact limit of ABJM

We study planar ABJM in a limit where one coupling is negligible compared to the other. We provide a recipe for exactly solving the expectation value of bosonic BPS Wilson loops on arbitrary smooth contours, or the leading divergence for cusped ones, using results from localization. As an application, we compute the exact (generalized) cusp anomalous dimension and Bremsstrahlung function and use it to determine the interpolating $h$-function. We finally prove a conjecture on the exact form of the dilatation operator in a closed sector, hinting at the integrability of this limit.

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Green-Schwarz superstring on the lattice

We consider possible discretizations for a gauge-fixed Green-Schwarz action of Type IIB superstring. We use them for measuring the action, from which we extract the cusp anomalous dimension of planar $\mathcal{N}=4$ SYM as derived from AdS/CFT, as well as the mass of the two $AdS$ excitations transverse to the relevant null cusp classical string solution. We perform lattice simulations employing a Rational Hybrid Monte Carlo (RHMC) algorithm and two Wilson-like fermion discretizations, one of which preserves the global $SO(6)$ symmetry of the model. We compare our results with the expected behavior at various values of $g=\frac{\sqrtλ}{4π}$. For both the observables, we find a good agreement for large $g$, which is the perturbative regime of the sigma-model. For smaller values of $g$, the expectation value of the action exhibits a deviation compatible with the presence of quadratic divergences. After their non-perturbative subtraction the continuum limit can be taken, and suggests a qualitative agreement with the non-perturbative expectation from AdS/CFT. Furthermore, we detect a phase in the fermion determinant, whose origin we explain, that for very small $g$ leads to a sign problem not treatable via standard reweigthing. The continuum extrapolations of the observables in the two different discretizations agree within errors, which is strongly suggesting that they lead to the same continuum limit. Part of the results discussed here were presented earlier in arXiv:1601.04670.

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A note on multiply wound BPS Wilson loops in ABJM

We consider BPS Wilson loops in planar ABJM theory, wound multiple times around the great circle. We compute the expectation value of the 1/6-BPS and 1/2-BPS Wilson loops to three- and two-loop order in perturbation theory, respectively, dealing with the combinatorics of multiple winding via recursive relations. For the 1/6-BPS Wilson loop we perform the computation at generic framing and at framing 1 we find agreement with the localization result. For the 1/2-BPS Wilson loop we compute the expectation value at trivial framing and by comparison with the matrix model expression we extract the framing dependence of the fermion diagrams.

hep-th↗

Lattice and string worldsheet in AdS/CFT: a numerical study

We consider a possible discretization for the gauge-fixed Green-Schwarz (two-dimensional) sigma-model action for the Type IIB superstring and use it for measuring the cusp anomalous dimension of planar $\mathcal{N}=4$ SYM as derived from string theory. We perform lattice simulations employing a Rational Hybrid Monte Carlo (RHMC) algorithm and a Wilson-like fermion discretization. In this preliminary study, we compare our results with the expected behavior for very large values of $g=\frac{\sqrtλ}{4π}$, which is the perturbative regime of the sigma-model, and find a qualitative agreement at finite lattice spacing. For smaller $g$ the continuum limit is obstructed by a divergence. We also detect a phase in the fermion determinant, whose origin we explain, which for small $g$ leads to a sign problem not treatable via standard reweigthing. Results presented here are discussed thoroughly in~\cite{toappear}.

hep-lat↗

Quantum dispersion relations for the $AdS_4 \times CP^3$ GKP string

We compute the one-loop correction to the dispersion relations of the excitations of the $AdS_4 \times CP^3$ sigma model dual to ABJM theory, expanded around the cusp background. The results parallel those of N = 4 SYM. As in that case, the dispersion relations are compatible with the predictions from the Bethe ansatz for the GKP string, though showing some known discrepancies on which we comment.

hep-th↗

A note on scattering amplitudes on the moduli space of ABJM

We compute the simplest one-loop planar amplitudes in Higgsed ABJM theory at a generic point of the moduli space. We explicitly check that they can be expressed in terms of integrals which are invariant under dual conformal symmetry involving masses, in a similar fashion as in N=4 SYM.

hep-th↗

On the scattering of gluons in the GKP string

We compute the one-loop S-matrix for the light bosonic excitations of the GKP string at strong coupling. These correspond, on the gauge theory side, to gluon insertions in the GKP vacuum. We perform the calculation by Feynman diagrams in the worldsheet theory and we compare the result to the integrability prediction, finding perfect agreement for the scheme independent part. For scheme dependent rational terms we test different schemes and find that a recent proposal reproduces exactly the integrability prediction.

hep-th↗

Worldsheet scattering for the GKP string

We initiate the perturbative study of the S-matrix for the excitations on top of the GKP vacuum at strong coupling. Using the string sigma model action expanded around the null cusp classical solution, we compute the tree-level S-matrix elements and compare them with the predictions from the asymptotic Bethe Ansatz. We also check the factorization of the three-body S-matrix for various bosonic processes, finding precise agreement with the constraints imposed by integrability.

hep-th↗

Dilogarithm ladders from Wilson loops

We consider a light-like Wilson loop in N=4 SYM evaluated on a regular n-polygon contour. Sending the number of edges to infinity the polygon approximates a circle and the expectation value of the light-like WL is expected to tend to the localization result for the circular one. We show this explicitly at one loop, providing a prescription to deal with the divergences of the light-like WL and the large n limit. Taking this limit entails evaluating certain sums of dilogarithms which, for a regular polygon, evaluate to the same constant independently of n. We show that this occurs thanks to underpinning dilogarithm identities, related to the so-called polylogarithm ladders, which appear in rather different contexts of physics and mathematics and enable us to perform the large n limit analytically.

hep-th↗

Two-loop cusp anomaly in ABJM at strong coupling

We compute the null cusp anomalous dimension of ABJM theory at strong coupling up to two-loop order. This is done by evaluating corrections to the corresponding superstring partition function, weighted by the $AdS_4\times \mathbb{CP}^3$ action in AdS light-cone gauge. We compare our result, where we use an anomalous shift in the $AdS_4$ radius, with the cusp anomaly of $\mathcal{N}=4$ SYM, and extract the two-loop contribution to the non-trivial integrable coupling $h(λ)$ of ABJM theory. It coincides with the strong coupling expansion of the exact expression for $ h(λ)$ recently conjectured by Gromov and Sizov. Our work provides thus a non-trivial perturbative check for the latter, as well as evidence for two-loop UV-finiteness and quantum integrability of the Type IIA $AdS_4\times \mathbb{CP}^3$ superstring in this gauge.

hep-th↗

Non-planarity through unitarity in ABJM

We use unitarity techniques to compute the two-loop non-planar corrections to the Sudakov form factor and the four-point amplitude in ABJM theory. We start by reconstructing non-planar integrals from two-particle cuts in three dimensions. This causes ambiguities, due to the one-loop four-point amplitude being subleading in dimensional regularization. We provide a prescription to circumvent them and show that it leads to the correct results, as checked against the recent Feynman diagram computation. For the amplitude we point out an alternative basis of integrals, including a non-planar double-box with a numerator inspired by color-kinematics duality. We reproduce the result using a combination thereof with the coefficients fixed by generalized unitarity. For BLG theory we propose that this gives the form of the amplitude satisfying color-kinematics duality. Finally, we compute the complete two-loop amplitude of three-dimensional N = 8 SYM, and the corresponding four-point amplitude in N = 16 supergravity as a double copy.

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On the ABJM four-point amplitude at three loops and BDS exponentiation

We study the three-loop four-point amplitude in ABJM theory. We determine the dual conformal invariant integrals with highest number of propagators and fix their coefficients by two-particle cuts. Evaluating such a combination of integrals in dimensional regularization we provide evidence for exponentiation of the amplitude, including the finite terms. In addition we show that the three-loop amplitude can be expressed in terms of classical polylogarithms of uniform degree of transcendentality.

hep-th↗

BPS Wilson loops and Bremsstrahlung function in ABJ(M): a two loop analysis

We study a family of circular BPS Wilson loops in N=6 super Chern-Simons-matter theories, generalizing the usual 1/2-BPS circle. The scalar and fermionic couplings depend on two deformation parameters and these operators can be considered as the ABJ(M) counterpart of the DGRT latitudes defined in N=4 SYM. We perform a complete two-loop analysis of their vacuum expectation value, discuss the framing dependence and propose a general relation with cohomologically equivalent bosonic operators. We make an all-loop proposal for computing the Bremsstrahlung function associated to the 1/2-BPS cusp in terms of these generalized Wilson loops. When applied to our two-loop result it reproduces the known expression. Finally, we comment on the generalization of this proposal to the bosonic 1/6-BPS case.

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