arXiv subjects

Matthias Wilhelm

Publications and source records attributed to Matthias Wilhelm.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Efficient AI-Inspired Reduction of Feynman Integrals via Tube Seeding

In this paper, we use machine learning to discover a new seeding strategy for integration-by-parts reduction of Feynman integrals, which is a frequent bottleneck in state-of-the-art calculations in theoretical particle and gravitational-wave physics. Our strategy allows us to reduce multi-loop integrals with large numerator powers via essentially the standard Laporta algorithm but with a sparse selection of seed integrals that grows only linearly with the numerator power, whereas existing strategies lead to growth with a polynomial power that increases with the complexity of the integral being reduced. The seeds are restricted to a thin tube-like region that connects the target integral to the master integrals along a zigzag path. We demonstrate the power of our approach by reducing non-planar 2-loop 5-point integrals of rank 20 with numerical kinematics over a finite field, which is prohibitively difficult for the Laporta algorithm with conventional seeding. Going beyond individual integrals, we further demonstrate the reduction of a complete set of top-level rank-10 integrals by dividing the target integrals into several chunks, each of which can be solved by our sparse seeding strategy with considerably less time and a significantly lower memory footprint than other state-of-the-art strategies, making the approach well-suited for phenomenological applications. We provide a proof-of-principle implementation on GitHub at https://github.com/andreslunagodoy/tube_seeding.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2025

The spectrum of Feynman-integral geometries at two loops

We provide a complete classification of the Feynman-integral geometries at two-loop order in four-dimensional Quantum Field Theory with standard quadratic propagators. Concretely, we consider a finite basis of integrals in the 't Hooft--Veltman scheme, i.e. with $D$-dimensional loop momenta and four-dimensional external momenta, which belong to 79 independent topologies, or sectors. Then, we analyze the leading singularities of the integrals in those sectors for generic values of the masses and momenta, using the loop-by-loop Baikov representation. Aside from the Riemann sphere, we find that elliptic curves, hyperelliptic curves of genus 2 and 3 as well as K3 surfaces occur. Moreover, we find a smooth and non-degenerate Del Pezzo surface of degree 2, a particular Fano variety known to be rationalizable, resulting in a curve of geometric genus 3. These geometries determine the space of functions relevant for Quantum Field Theories at two-loop order, including in the Standard Model.

hep-th↗

arXiv2025

Classification of Feynman integral geometries for black-hole scattering at 5PM order

We provide a complete classification of the Feynman integral geometries relevant to the scattering of two black holes at fifth order in the post-Minkowskian (PM) expansion, i.e. at four loops. The analysis includes integrals relevant to both the conservative and dissipative dynamics, as well as to all orders in the self-force (SF) expansion, i.e. the 0SF, 1SF and 2SF orders. By relating the geometries of integrals across different loop orders and integral families, we find that out of the 16,596 potentially contributing integral topologies, only 70 need to be analyzed in detail. By further computing their leading singularities using the loop-by-loop Baikov representation, we show that there only appear two different three-dimensional Calabi-Yau geometries and two different K3 surfaces at this loop order, which together characterize the space of functions beyond polylogarithms to which the 5PM integrals evaluate.

hep-th↗

arXiv2025

Refining Integration-by-Parts Reduction of Feynman Integrals with Machine Learning

Integration-by-parts reductions of Feynman integrals pose a frequent bottle-neck in state-of-the-art calculations in theoretical particle and gravitational-wave physics, and rely on heuristic approaches for selecting integration-by-parts identities, whose quality heavily influences the performance. In this paper, we investigate the use of machine-learning techniques to find improved heuristics. We use funsearch, a genetic programming variant based on code generation by a Large Language Model, in order to explore possible approaches, then use strongly typed genetic programming to zero in on useful solutions. Both approaches manage to re-discover the state-of-the-art heuristics recently incorporated into integration-by-parts solvers, and in one example find a small advance on this state of the art.

hep-th↗

arXiv2025

Recurrent Features of Amplitudes in Planar $\mathcal{N}=4$ Super Yang-Mills Theory

The planar three-gluon form factor for the chiral stress tensor operator in planar maximally supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory is an analog of the Higgs-to-three-gluon scattering amplitude in QCD. The amplitude (symbol) bootstrap program has provided a wealth of high-loop perturbative data about this form factor, with results up to eight loops available. The symbol of the form factor at $L$ loops is given by words of length $2L$ in six letters with associated integer coefficients. In this paper, we analyze this data, describing patterns of zero coefficients and relations between coefficients. We find many sequences of words whose coefficients are given by closed-form expressions which we expect to be valid at any loop order. Moreover, motivated by our previous machine-learning analysis, we identify simple recursion relations that relate the coefficient of a word to the coefficients of particular lower-loop words. These results open an exciting door for understanding scattering amplitudes at all loop orders.

hep-th↗

arXiv2024

Calabi-Yau Feynman integrals in gravity: $\varepsilon$-factorized form for apparent singularities

We study a recently identified four-loop Feynman integral that contains a three-dimensional Calabi-Yau geometry and contributes to the scattering of black holes in classical gravity at fifth post-Minkowskian and second self-force order (5PM 2SF) in the conservative sector. In contrast to previously studied Calabi-Yau Feynman integrals, the higher-order differential equation that this integral satisfies in dimensional regularization exhibits $\varepsilon$-dependent apparent singularities. We introduce an appropriate ansatz which allows us to bring such cases into an $\varepsilon$-factorized form. As a proof of principle, we apply it to the integral at hand.

hep-th↗

arXiv2024

All planar two-loop amplitudes in maximally supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory

We calculate the general planar dual-conformally invariant double-pentagon and pentabox integrals in four dimensions. Concretely, we derive one-fold integral representations for these elliptic integrals over polylogarithms of weight three. These integral representations allow us to determine the respective symbols using consistency conditions alone. Together with the previously calculated double-box integral, these integrals suffice to express all two-loop planar scattering amplitudes in maximally supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory in four dimensions -- which we thus calculate for any number of particles and any helicity configuration!

hep-th↗

arXiv2024

Classifying post-Minkowskian geometries for gravitational waves via loop-by-loop Baikov

We use the loop-by-loop Baikov representation to investigate the geometries in Feynman integrals contributing to the classical dynamics of a black-hole two-body system in the post-Minkowskian expansion of general relativity. These geometries determine the spaces of functions to which the corresponding Feynman diagrams evaluate. As a proof of principle, we provide a full classification of the geometries appearing up to three loops, i.e. fourth post-Minkowskian order, for all diagrams relevant to the conservative as well as the dissipative dynamics, finding full agreement with the literature. Moreover, we show that the non-planar top topology at four loops, which is the most complicated sector with respect to integration-by-parts identities, has an algebraic leading singularity and thus can only depend on non-trivial geometries through its subsectors.

hep-th↗

arXiv2024

Transforming the Bootstrap: Using Transformers to Compute Scattering Amplitudes in Planar N = 4 Super Yang-Mills Theory

We pursue the use of deep learning methods to improve state-of-the-art computations in theoretical high-energy physics. Planar N = 4 Super Yang-Mills theory is a close cousin to the theory that describes Higgs boson production at the Large Hadron Collider; its scattering amplitudes are large mathematical expressions containing integer coefficients. In this paper, we apply Transformers to predict these coefficients. The problem can be formulated in a language-like representation amenable to standard cross-entropy training objectives. We design two related experiments and show that the model achieves high accuracy (> 98%) on both tasks. Our work shows that Transformers can be applied successfully to problems in theoretical physics that require exact solutions.

cs.LG↗

arXiv2023

Calabi-Yau meets Gravity: A Calabi-Yau three-fold at fifth post-Minkowskian order

We study geometries occurring in Feynman integrals that contribute to the scattering of black holes in the post-Minkowskian expansion. These geometries become relevant to gravitational-wave production during the inspiralling phase of binary black hole mergers through the classical conservative potential. At fourth post-Minkowskian order, a K3 surface is known to occur in a three-loop integral, leading to elliptic integrals in the result. In this letter, we identify a Calabi-Yau three-fold in a four-loop integral, contributing at fifth post-Minkowskian order. The presence of this Calabi-Yau geometry indicates that completely new functions occur in the full analytical results at this order.

hep-th↗

arXiv2023

An Infinite Family of Elliptic Ladder Integrals

We identify two families of ten-point Feynman diagrams that generalize the elliptic double box, and show that they can be expressed in terms of the same class of elliptic multiple polylogarithms to all loop orders. Interestingly, one of these families can also be written as a dlog form. For both families of diagrams, we provide new 2l-fold integral representations that are linearly reducible in all but one variable and that make the above properties manifest. We illustrate the simplicity of this integral representation by directly integrating the three-loop representative of both families of diagrams. These families also satisfy a pair of second-order differential equations, making them ideal examples on which to develop bootstrap techniques involving elliptic symbol letters at high loop orders.

hep-th↗

arXiv2023

Bootstrapping a Stress-Tensor Form Factor through Eight Loops

We bootstrap the three-point form factor of the chiral stress-tensor multiplet in planar $\mathcal{N}=4$ supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory at six, seven, and eight loops, using boundary data from the form factor operator product expansion. This may represent the highest perturbative order to which multi-variate quantities in a unitary four-dimensional quantum field theory have been computed. In computing this form factor, we observe and employ new restrictions on pairs and triples of adjacent letters in the symbol. We provide details about the function space required to describe the form factor through eight loops. Plotting the results on various lines provides striking numerical evidence for a finite radius of convergence of perturbation theory. By the principle of maximal transcendentality, our results are expected to give the highest weight part of the $g g \rightarrow H g$ and $H \rightarrow ggg$ amplitudes in the heavy-top limit of QCD through eight loops. These results were also recently used to discover a new antipodal duality between this form factor and a six-point amplitude in the same theory.

hep-th↗

arXiv2023

Symbology for elliptic multiple polylogarithms and the symbol prime

Elliptic multiple polylogarithms occur in Feynman integrals and in particular in scattering amplitudes. They can be characterized by their symbol, a tensor product in the so-called symbol letters. In contrast to the non-elliptic case, the elliptic letters themselves satisfy highly non-trivial identities, which we discuss in this paper. Moreover, we introduce the symbol prime, an analog of the symbol for elliptic symbol letters, which makes these identities manifest. We demonstrate its use in two concrete examples at two-loop order: the unequal-mass sunrise integral in two dimensions and the ten-point double-box integral in four dimensions. Finally, we also report the result of the polylogarithmic nine-point double-box integral, which arises as the soft limit of the ten-point integral.

hep-th↗

arXiv2022

Bootstrapping elliptic Feynman integrals using Schubert analysis

The symbol bootstrap has proven to be a powerful tool for calculating polylogarithmic Feynman integrals and scattering amplitudes. In this letter, we initiate the symbol bootstrap for elliptic Feynman integrals. Concretely, we bootstrap the symbol of the twelve-point two-loop double-box integral in four dimensions, which depends on nine dual-conformal cross ratios. We obtain the symbol alphabet, which contains 100 logarithms as well as 9 simple elliptic integrals, via a Schubert-type analysis, which we equally generalize to the elliptic case. In particular, we find a compact, one-line formula for the (2,2)-coproduct of the result.

hep-th↗

arXiv2022

Antipodal Self-Duality for a Four-Particle Form Factor

We bootstrap the symbol of the maximal-helicity-violating four-particle form factor for the chiral part of the stress-tensor supermultiplet in planar $\mathcal{N}=4$ super-Yang-Mills theory at two loops. When minimally normalized, this symbol involves only 34 letters and obeys the extended Steinmann relations in all partially-overlapping three-particle momentum channels. In addition, the remainder function for this form factor exhibits an antipodal self-duality: it is invariant under the combined operation of the antipodal map defined on multiple polylogarithms -- which reverses the order of the symbol letters -- and a simple kinematic map. This self-duality holds on a four-dimensional parity-preserving kinematic hypersurface. It implies the antipodal duality recently noticed between the three-particle form factor and the six-particle amplitude in this theory.

hep-th↗

arXiv2022

An Operator Product Expansion for Form Factors III. Finite Coupling and Multi-Particle Contributions

Form factors in planar $\mathcal{N}=4$ super-Yang-Mills theory have a dual description in terms of periodic Wilson loops. This duality maps the multi-collinear expansion of the former to an operator product expansion of the latter. The coefficients of this expansion are decomposed in terms of several elementary building blocks and can be determined at finite 't Hooft coupling using bootstrap and integrability techniques. Some of these blocks are known from an analogous expansion of scattering amplitudes. In addition to these, the expansion for form factors includes a new type of building block, called {\it form factor transitions}, that encode information about the local operator. In the present paper, we consider the form factor of the chiral part of the stress-tensor supermultiplet. We bootstrap the corresponding form factor transitions of two-particle flux-tube states and use them to predict the leading term in the collinear expansion at finite coupling. The transitions we find can be expressed in terms of a quantity that previously appeared in a seemingly unrelated context, namely the octagon kernel. Lastly, we use a factorized ansatz to determine the multi-particle form factor transitions at finite coupling, which we use to predict the first subleading term in the collinear expansion. A perfect match is found between our predictions and the available perturbative data.

hep-th↗

arXiv2022

Folding Amplitudes into Form Factors: An Antipodal Duality

We observe that the three-gluon form factor of the chiral part of the stress-tensor multiplet in planar $\mathcal{N}=4$ super-Yang-Mills theory is dual to the six-gluon MHV amplitude on its parity-preserving surface. Up to a simple variable substitution, the map between these two quantities is given by the antipode operation defined on polylogarithms (as part of their Hopf algebra structure), which acts at symbol level by reversing the order of letters in each term. We provide evidence for this duality through seven loops.

hep-th↗

arXiv2022

Functions Beyond Multiple Polylogarithms for Precision Collider Physics

Feynman diagrams constitute one of the essential ingredients for making precision predictions for collider experiments. Yet, while the simplest Feynman diagrams can be evaluated in terms of multiple polylogarithms -- whose properties as special functions are well understood -- more complex diagrams often involve integrals over complicated algebraic manifolds. Such diagrams already contribute at NNLO to the self-energy of the electron, $t \bar{t}$ production, $γγ$ production, and Higgs decay, and appear at two loops in the planar limit of maximally supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory. This makes the study of these more complicated types of integrals of phenomenological as well as conceptual importance. In this white paper contribution to the Snowmass community planning exercise, we provide an overview of the state of research on Feynman diagrams that involve special functions beyond multiple polylogarithms, and highlight a number of research directions that constitute essential avenues for future investigation.

hep-ph↗