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Stephen G. Naculich

Publications and source records attributed to Stephen G. Naculich.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Color-factor symmetry using perturbiner methods for tree-level amplitudes of Yang-Mills theory coupled to matter

Bern-Carrasco-Johansson relations are helicity-independent constraints among the partial amplitudes of tree-level processes containing gluons and possibly also matter fields. They are a consequence of color-kinematic duality, but alternatively can be derived using the color-factor symmetry of tree-level amplitudes. We use recursive perturbiner methods to present a general, streamlined proof of the color-factor symmetry of all tree-level amplitudes containing an arbitrary number of fundamental spin-zero or spin-one-half matter fields and at least one gluon.

hep-th

All-loop group-theory constraints for four-point amplitudes of SU($N$), SO($N$), and Sp($N$) gauge theories

In the decomposition of gauge-theory amplitudes into kinematic and color factors, the color factors (at a given loop order $L$) span a proper subspace of the extended trace space (which consists of single and multiple traces of generators of the gauge group, graded by powers of $N$). Using an iterative process, we systematically construct the $L$-loop color space of four-point amplitudes of fields in the adjoint representation of SU($N$), SO($N$), or Sp($N$). We define the null space as the orthogonal complement of the color space. For SU($N$), we confirm the existence of four independent null vectors (for $L \ge 2$) and for SO($N$) and Sp($N$), we establish the existence of seventeen independent null vectors (for $L \ge 5$). Each null vector corresponds to a group-theory constraint on the color-ordered amplitudes of the gauge theory.

hep-th

Color-factor symmetry of the amplitudes of Yang-Mills and biadjoint scalar theory using perturbiner methods

Color-factor symmetry is a property of tree-level gauge-theory amplitudes containing at least one gluon. BCJ relations among color-ordered amplitudes follow directly from this symmetry. Color-factor symmetry is also a feature of biadjoint scalar theory amplitudes as well as of their equations of motion. In this paper, we present a new proof of color-factor symmetry using a recursive method derived from the perturbiner expansion of the classical equations of motion.

hep-th

Proof of a three-loop relation between the Regge limits of four-point amplitudes in N=4 SYM and N=8 supergravity

A previously proposed all-loop-orders relation between the Regge limits of four-point amplitudes of N=4 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory and N=8 supergravity is established at the three-loop level. We show that the Regge limit of known expressions for the amplitudes obtained using generalized unitarity simplifies in both cases to a (modified) sum over three-loop ladder and crossed-ladder scalar diagrams. This in turn is consistent with the result obtained using the eikonal representation of the four-point gravity amplitude. A possible exact three-loop relation between four-point amplitudes is also considered.

hep-th

All-loop-orders relation between Regge limits of ${\cal N}=4$ SYM and ${\cal N}=8$ supergravity four-point amplitudes

We examine in detail the structure of the Regge limit of the (nonplanar) ${\cal N}=4$ SYM four-point amplitude. We begin by developing a basis of color factors $C_{ik}$ suitable for the Regge limit of the amplitude at any loop order, and then calculate explicitly the coefficients of the amplitude in that basis through three-loop order using the Regge limit of the full amplitude previously calculated by Henn and Mistlberger. We compute these coefficients exactly at one loop, through ${\cal O} (ε^2)$ at two loops, and through ${\cal O} (ε^0)$ at three loops, verifying that the IR-divergent pieces are consistent with (the Regge limit of) the expected infrared divergence structure, including a contribution from the three-loop correction to the dipole formula. We also verify consistency with the IR-finite NLL and NNLL predictions of Caron-Huot et al. Finally we use these results to motivate the conjecture of an all-orders relation between one of the coefficients and the Regge limit of the ${\cal N} =8$ supergravity four-point amplitude.

hep-th

A tale of two exponentiations in ${\cal N}=8$ supergravity at subleading level

High-energy massless gravitational scattering in ${\cal N}=8$ supergravity was recently analyzed at leading level in the deflection angle, uncovering an interesting connection between exponentiation of infrared divergences in momentum space and the eikonal exponentiation in impact parameter space. Here we extend that analysis to the first non trivial sub-leading level in the deflection angle which, for massless external particles, implies going to two loops, i.e. to third post-Minkowskian (3PM) order. As in the case of the leading eikonal, we see that the factorisation of the momentum space amplitude into the exponential of the one-loop result times a finite remainder hides some basic simplicity of the impact parameter formulation. For the conservative part of the process, the explicit outcome is infrared (IR) finite, shows no logarithmic enhancement, and agrees with an old claim in pure Einstein gravity, while the dissipative part is IR divergent and should be regularized, as usual, by including soft gravitational bremsstrahlung. Finally, using recent three-loop results, we test the expectation that eikonal formulation accounts for the exponentiation of the lower-loop results in the momentum space amplitude. This passes a number of highly non-trivial tests, but appears to fail for the dissipative part of the process at all loop orders and sufficiently subleading order in $ε$, hinting at some lack of commutativity of the relevant infrared limits for each exponentiation.

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A tale of two exponentiations in ${\cal N}=8$ supergravity

The structure of scattering amplitudes in supergravity theories continues to be of interest. Recently, the amplitude for $2\rightarrow 2$ scattering in ${\cal N}=8$ supergravity was presented at three-loop order for the first time. The result can be written in terms of an exponentiated one-loop contribution, modulo a remainder function which is free of infrared singularities, but contains leading terms in the high energy Regge limit. We explain the origin of these terms from a well-known, unitarity-restoring exponentiation of the high-energy gravitational $S$-matrix in impact-parameter space. Furthermore, we predict the existence of similar terms in the remainder function at all higher loop orders. Our results provide a non-trivial cross-check of the recent three-loop calculation, and a necessary consistency constraint for any future calculation at higher loops.

hep-th

KLT-type relations for QCD and bicolor amplitudes from color-factor symmetry

Color-factor symmetry is used to derive a KLT-type relation for tree-level QCD amplitudes containing gluons and an arbitrary number of massive or massless quark-antiquark pairs, generalizing the expression for Yang-Mills amplitudes originally postulated by Bern, De Freitas, and Wong. An explicit expression is given for all amplitudes with two or fewer quark-antiquark pairs in terms of the (modified) momentum kernel. We also introduce the bicolor scalar theory, the "zeroth copy" of QCD, containing massless biadjoint scalars and massive bifundamental scalars, generalizing the biadjoint scalar theory of Cachazo, He, and Yuan. We derive KLT-type relations for tree-level amplitudes of biadjoint and bicolor theories using the color-factor symmetry possessed by these theories.

hep-th

Color-factor symmetry and BCJ relations for QCD amplitudes

Tree-level $n$-point gauge-theory amplitudes with $n-2k$ gluons and $k$ pairs of (massless or massive) particles in the fundamental (or other) representation of the gauge group are invariant under a set of symmetries that act as momentum-dependent shifts on the color factors in the cubic decomposition of the amplitude. These symmetries lead to gauge-invariant constraints on the kinematic numerators. They also directly imply the BCJ relations among the Melia-basis primitive amplitudes previously obtained by Johansson and Ochirov.

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Soft Photon and Graviton Theorems in Effective Field Theory

Extensions of the photon and graviton soft theorems are derived in 4d local effective field theories with massless particles of arbitrary spin. We prove that effective operators can result in new terms in the soft theorems at subleading order for photons and subsubleading order for gravitons. The new soft terms are unique and we provide a complete classification of all local operators responsible for such modifications. We show that no local operators can modify the subleading soft graviton theorem. The soft limits are taken in a manifestly on-locus manner using a complex double deformation of the external momenta. In addition to the new soft theorems, the resulting master formula yields consistency conditions such as the conservation of electric charge, the Einstein equivalence principle, supergravity Ward identities, and the Weinberg-Witten theorem.

hep-th

BCJ relations from a new symmetry of gauge-theory amplitudes

We introduce a new set of symmetries obeyed by tree-level gauge-theory amplitudes involving at least one gluon. The symmetry acts as a momentum-dependent shift on the color factors of the amplitude. Using the radiation vertex expansion, we prove the invariance under this color-factor shift of the $n$-gluon amplitude, as well as amplitudes involving massless or massive particles in an arbitrary representation of the gauge group with spin zero, one-half, or one. The Bern-Carrasco-Johansson relations are a direct consequence of this symmetry. We also introduce the cubic vertex expansion of an amplitude, and use it to derive a generalized-gauge-invariant constraint on the kinematic numerators of the amplitude. We show that the amplitudes of the bi-adjoint scalar theory are invariant under the color-factor symmetry, and use this to derive the null eigenvectors of the propagator matrix. We generalize the color-factor shift to loop level, and prove the invariance under this shift of one-loop $n$-gluon amplitudes in any theory that admits a color-kinematic-dual representation of numerators. We show that the one-loop color-factor symmetry implies known relations among the integrands of one-loop color-ordered amplitudes.

hep-th

Amplitudes for massive vector and scalar bosons in spontaneously-broken gauge theory from the CHY representation

In the formulation of Cachazo, He, and Yuan, tree-level amplitudes for massless particles in gauge theory and gravity can be expressed as rational functions of the Lorentz invariants $k_a \cdot k_b$, $ε_a \cdot k_b$, and $ε_a \cdot ε_b$, valid in any number of spacetime dimensions. We use dimensional reduction of higher-dimensional amplitudes of particles with internal momentum $κ$ to obtain amplitudes for massive particles in lower dimensions. In the case of gauge theory, we argue that these massive amplitudes belong to a theory in which the gauge symmetry is spontaneously broken by an adjoint Higgs field. Consequently, we show that tree-level $n$-point amplitudes containing massive vector and scalar bosons in this theory can be obtained by simply replacing $k_a \cdot k_b$ with $k_a \cdot k_b - κ_a κ_b $ in the corresponding massless amplitudes, where the masses of the particles are given by $|κ_a|$.

hep-th

CHY representations for gauge theory and gravity amplitudes with up to three massive particles

We show that a wide class of tree-level scattering amplitudes involving scalars, gauge bosons, and gravitons, up to three of which may be massive, can be expressed in terms of a Cachazo-He-Yuan representation as a sum over solutions of the scattering equations. These amplitudes, when expressed in terms of the appropriate kinematic invariants, are independent of the masses and therefore identical to the corresponding massless amplitudes.

hep-th

Scattering equations and BCJ relations for gauge and gravitational amplitudes with massive scalar particles

We generalize the scattering equations to include both massless and massive particles. We construct an expression for the tree-level n-point amplitude with n-2 gluons or gravitons and a pair of massive scalars in arbitrary spacetime dimension as a sum over the (n-3)! solutions of the scattering equations, a la Cachazo, He, and Yuan. We derive the BCJ relations obeyed by these massive amplitudes.

hep-th

Symmetric-group decomposition of SU(N) group-theory constraints on four-, five-, and six-point color-ordered amplitudes

Color-ordered amplitudes for the scattering of n particles in the adjoint representation of SU(N) gauge theory satisfy constraints that arise from group theory alone. These constraints break into subsets associated with irreducible representations of the symmetric group S_n, which allows them to be presented in a compact and natural way. Using an iterative approach, we derive the constraints for six-point amplitudes at all loop orders, extending earlier results for n=4 and n=5. We then decompose the four-, five-, and six-point group-theory constraints into their irreducible S_n subspaces. We comment briefly on higher-point two-loop amplitudes.

hep-th

Scattering equations and virtuous kinematic numerators and dual-trace functions

Inspired by recent developments on scattering equations, we present a constructive procedure for computing symmetric, amplitude-encoded, BCJ numerators for n-point gauge-theory amplitudes, thus satisfying the three virtues identified by Broedel and Carrasco. We also develop a constructive procedure for computing symmetric, amplitude-encoded dual-trace functions (tau) for n-point amplitudes. These can be used to obtain symmetric kinematic numerators that automatically satisfy color-kinematic duality. The S_n symmetry of n-point gravity amplitudes formed from these symmetric dual-trace functions is completely manifest. Explicit expressions for four- and five-point amplitudes are presented.

hep-th

Eikonal methods applied to gravitational scattering amplitudes

We apply factorization and eikonal methods from gauge theories to scattering amplitudes in gravity. We hypothesize that these amplitudes factor into an IR-divergent soft function and an IR-finite hard function, with the former given by the expectation value of a product of gravitational Wilson line operators. Using this approach, we show that the IR-divergent part of the n-graviton scattering amplitude is given by the exponential of the one-loop IR divergence, as originally discovered by Weinberg, with no additional subleading IR-divergent contributions in dimensional regularization.

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All-loop infrared-divergent behavior of most-subleading-color gauge-theory amplitudes

The infrared singularities of gravitational amplitudes are one-loop exact, in that higher-loop divergences are characterized by the exponential of the one-loop divergence. We show that the contributions to SU(N) gauge-theory amplitudes that are most-subleading in the 1/N expansion are also one-loop exact, provided that the dipole conjecture holds. Possible corrections to the dipole conjecture, beginning at three loops, could violate one-loop-exactness, though would still maintain the absence of collinear divergences. We also demonstrate a relation between L-loop four-point N=8 supergravity and most-subleading-color N=4 SYM amplitudes that holds for the two leading IR divergences, O(1/ε^L) and O(1/ε^{L-1}), but breaks down at O(1/ε^{L-2}).

hep-th