arXiv subjects

Yu-tin Huang

Publications and source records attributed to Yu-tin Huang.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv2016

Universality in string interactions

In this letter, we provide evidence for universality in the low-energy expansion of tree-level string interactions. More precisely, in the alpha'-expansion of tree-level scattering amplitudes, we conjecture that the leading transcendental coefficient at each order in alpha' is universal for all perturbative string theories. We have checked this universality up to seven points and trace its origin to the ability to restructure the disk integrals of open bosonic string into those of the superstring. The accompanying kinematic functions have the same low-energy limit and do not introduce any transcendental numbers in their alpha'-corrections. Universality in the closed-string sector then follows from the KLT-relations.

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arXiv2016

Soft theorems from anomalous symmetries

We discuss constraints imposed by soft limits for effective field theories arising from symmetry breaking. In particular, we consider those associated with anomalous conformal symmetry as well as duality symmetries in supergravity. We verify these soft theorems for the dilaton effective action relevant for the a-theorem, as well as the one-loop effective action for N=4 supergravity. Using the universality of leading transcendental coefficients in the alpha' expansion of string theory amplitudes, we study the matrix elements of operator R^4 with half maximal supersymmetry. We construct the non-linear completion of R^4 that satisfies both single and double soft theorems up to seven points. This supports the existence of duality invariant completion of R^4.

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arXiv2015

Exact coefficients for higher dimensional operators with sixteen supersymmetries

We consider constraints on higher dimensional operators for supersymmetric effective field theories. In four dimensions with maximal supersymmetry and SU(4) R-symmetry, we demonstrate that the coefficients of abelian operators F^n with MHV helicity configurations must satisfy a recursion relation, and are completely determined by that of F^4. As the F^4 coefficient is known to be one-loop exact, this allows us to derive exact coefficients for all such operators. We also argue that the results are consistent with the SL(2,Z) duality symmetry. Breaking SU(4) to Sp(4), in anticipation for the Coulomb branch effective action, we again find an infinite class of operators whose coefficient that are determined exactly. We also consider three-dimensional N=8 as well as six-dimensional N=(2,0),(1,0) and (1,1) theories. In all cases, we demonstrate that the coefficient of dimension-six operator must be proportional to the square of that of dimension-four.

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arXiv2015

From U(1) to E8: soft theorems in supergravity amplitudes

It is known that for N=8 supergravity, the double-soft-scalar limit of a n-point amplitude is given by a sum of local SU(8) rotations acting on a (n-2)-point amplitude. For N<8 supergravity theories, complication arises due to the presence of a U(1) in the U(N) isotropy group, which introduces a soft-graviton singularity that obscures the action of the duality symmetry. In this paper, we introduce an anti-symmetrised extraction procedure that exposes the full duality group. We illustrate this procedure for tree-level amplitudes in 4<=N<8 supergravity in four dimensions, as well as N=16 supergravity in three dimensions. In three dimensions, as all bosonic degrees of freedom transform under the E8 duality group, supersymmetry ensures that the amplitude vanishes in the single-soft limit of all particle species, in contrast to its higher dimensional siblings. Using recursive formulas and generalized unitarity cuts in three dimensions, we demonstrate the action of the duality group for any tree-level and one-loop amplitudes. Finally we discuss the implications of the duality symmetry on possible counter terms for this theory. As a preliminary application, we show that the vanishing of single-soft limits of arbitrary component fields in three-dimensional supergravity rules out the direct dimensional reduction of D^8R^4 as a valid counter term.

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arXiv2015

New fermionic soft theorems

Soft limits of massless S-matrix are known to reflect symmetries of the theory. In particular for theories with Goldstone bosons, the double-soft limit of scalars reveals the coset structure of the vacuum manifold. In this letter, we propose that such universal double-soft behavior is not only true for scalars, but also for spin-1/2 particles in four dimensions and fermions in three dimensions. We first consider Akulov-Volkov theory, and demonstrate the double soft-limit of goldstinos yields the supersymmetry algebra. More surprisingly we also find amplitudes in 3<N<=8 supergravity theories in four dimensions as well as N=16 supergravity in three dimensions behave universally in the double-soft-fermion limit, analogue to the scalar ones. The validity of the new soft theorems at loop level is also studied. The results for supergravity are beyond what is implied by SUSY Ward identities, and may impose non-trivial constraints on the possible counter terms for supergravity theories.

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arXiv2015

Color-Kinematics Duality for Pure Yang-Mills and Gravity at One and Two Loops

We provide evidence in favor of the conjectured duality between color and kinematics for the case of nonsupersymmetric pure Yang-Mills amplitudes by constructing a form of the one-loop four-point amplitude of this theory that makes the duality manifest. Our construction is valid in any dimension. We also describe a duality-satisfying representation for the two-loop four-point amplitude with identical four-dimensional external helicities. We use these results to obtain corresponding gravity integrands for a theory containing a graviton, dilaton, and antisymmetric tensor, simply by replacing color factors with specified diagram numerators. Using this, we give explicit forms of ultraviolet divergences at one loop in four, six, and eight dimensions, and at two loops in four dimensions.

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arXiv2015

Integrable Amplitude Deformations for N=4 Super Yang-Mills and ABJM Theory

We study Yangian-invariant deformations of scattering amplitudes in 4d N=4 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory and 3d N=6 Aharony-Bergman-Jafferis-Maldacena (ABJM) theory. In particular, we obtain the deformed Grassmannian integral for 4d N=4 super Yang-Mills theory, both in momentum and momentum-twistor space. For 3d ABJM theory, we initiate the study of deformed scattering amplitudes. We investigate general deformations of on-shell diagrams, and find the deformed Grassmannian integral for this theory. We furthermore introduce the algebraic R-matrix construction of deformed Yangian invariants for ABJM theory.

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arXiv2014

Grassmannians for scattering amplitudes in 4d $\mathcal{N}=4$ SYM and 3d ABJM

Scattering amplitudes in 4d $\mathcal{N}=4$ super Yang-Mills theory (SYM) can be described by Grassmannian contour integrals whose form depends on whether the external data is encoded in momentum space, twistor space, or momentum twistor space. After a pedagogical review, we present a new, streamlined proof of the equivalence of the three integral formulations. A similar strategy allows us to derive a new Grassmannian integral for 3d $\mathcal{N}=6$ ABJM theory amplitudes in momentum twistor space: it is a contour integral in an orthogonal Grassmannian with the novel property that the internal metric depends on the external data. The result can be viewed as a central step towards developing an amplituhedron formulation for ABJM amplitudes. Various properties of Grassmannian integrals are examined, including boundary properties, pole structure, and a homological interpretation of the global residue theorems for $\mathcal{N}=4$ SYM.

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arXiv2014

More on Soft Theorems: Trees, Loops and Strings

We study soft theorems in a broader context, addressing their fate at loop level and their universality in effective field theories and string theory. We argue that for gauge theories in the planar limit, loop-level soft gluon theorems can be made manifest already at the integrand level. In particular, we show that the planar integrand for N=4 SYM satisfies the tree-level soft theorem to all orders in perturbation theory and provide strong evidence to this effect for integrands in N<4 SYM. We consider soft theorems for non-supersymmetric Yang-Mills theories and gravity, and show the validity of integrand soft theorem, while loop corrections to the integrated soft theorems are intimately tied to the presence of conformal anomalies. We then address the question of universality of the soft theorems for various theories. In effective field theories with F^3 and R^3 interactions, the soft theorems are not modified. However for gravity theories with R^2 phi interactions, the sub-sub-leading order soft graviton theorem, which is beyond what is implied by the extended BMS symmetry, requires modifications at tree level for non-supersymmetric theories, and at loop level for N<5 supergravity due to anomalies. Finally, for superstring amplitudes at finite alpha', via explicit calculation for lower-point examples as well as world-sheet OPE analysis for arbitrary multiplicity, we show that the superstring amplitudes satisfy the same soft theorem as its field-theory counterpart. This is no longer true for bosonic closed strings due to the presence of R^2 phi interactions.

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arXiv2014

Loop Corrections to Soft Theorems in Gauge Theories and Gravity

In this paper, we study loop corrections to the recently proposed new soft theorem of Cachazo-Strominger, for both gravity and gauge theory amplitudes. We first review the proof of its tree-level validity based on BCFW recursion relations, which also establishes an infinite series of universals soft functions for MHV amplitudes, and a generalization to supersymmetric cases. For loop corrections, we focus on infrared finite, rational amplitudes at one loop, and apply recursion relations with boundary or double-pole contributions. For all-plus amplitudes, we prove that the subleading soft-theorems are exact to all multiplicities for both gauge and gravity amplitudes. For single-minus amplitudes, while the subleading soft-theorems are again exact for the minus-helicity soft leg, for plus-helicity loop corrections are required. Using recursion relations, we identify the source of such mismatch as stemming from the special contribution containing double poles, and obtain the all-multiplicity one-loop corrections to the subleading soft behavior in Yang-Mills theory. We also comment on the derivation of soft theorems using BCFW recursion in arbitrary dimensions.

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arXiv2014

Scattering Amplitudes

The purpose of this review is to bridge the gap between a standard course in quantum field theory and recent fascinating developments in the studies of on-shell scattering amplitudes. We build up the subject from basic quantum field theory, starting with Feynman rules for simple processes in Yukawa theory and QED. The material covered includes spinor helicity formalism, on-shell recursion relations, superamplitudes and their symmetries, twistors and momentum twistors, loops and integrands, Grassmannians, polytopes, and amplitudes in perturbative supergravity as well as 3d Chern-Simons-matter theories. Multiple examples and exercises are included.

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arXiv2014

Anomalies without an action

Modern on-shell methods allow us to construct both the classical and quantum S-matrix for a large class of theories, without utilizing knowledge of the interacting Lagrangian. It was recently shown that the same applies for chiral gauge theories, where the constraints from anomaly cancelation can be recast into the tension between unitarity and locality, without any reference to gauge symmetry. In this paper, we give a more detailed exploration, for chiral QED and QCD. We study the rational terms that are mandated by locality, and show that the factorization poles of such terms reveal a new particle in the spectrum, the Green-Schwarz two-from. We further extend the analysis to six-dimensional gravity coupled to chiral matter, including self-dual two-forms for which covariant actions generically do not exist. Despite this, the on-shell methods define the correct quantum S-matrix by demonstrating that locality of the one-loop amplitude requires combination of chiral matter that is consistent with that of anomaly cancelation.

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arXiv2014

Consistency conditions from generalized-unitarity

In the modern on-shell approach, the perturbative S-matrix is constructed iteratively using on-shell building blocks with manifest unitarity. As only gauge invariant quantities enter in the intermediate steps, the notion of gauge anomaly is absent. In this letter, we rephrase the anomaly cancellation conditions in a purely on-shell language. We demonstrate that while the unitarity-methods automatically lead to a unitary S-matrix, the rational terms that are required to enforce locality, invariably give rise to inconsistent factorization channels in chiral theories. In four-dimensions, the absence of such inconsistencies implies the vanishing of the cubic Casimir of the gauge group. In six-dimensions, if the symmetric trace of four generators does not vanish, the rational term develops a factorization channel revealing a new particle in the spectrum: the two-form of the Green-Schwarz mechanism. Thus in the purely on-shell construction, the notion of gauge-anomaly is replaced by the difficulty to consistently impose locality on the unitary S-matrix.

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arXiv2014

ABJM amplitudes and the positive orthogonal grassmannian

A remarkable connection between perturbative scattering amplitudes of four-dimensional planar SYM, and the stratification of the positive grassmannian, was revealed in the seminal work of Arkani-Hamed et. al. Similar extension for three-dimensional ABJM theory was proposed. Here we establish a direct connection between planar scattering amplitudes of ABJM theory, and singularities there of, to the stratification of the positive orthogonal grassmannian. In particular, scattering processes are constructed through on-shell diagrams, which are simply iterative gluing of the fundamental four-point amplitude. Each diagram is then equivalent to the merging of fundamental OG_2 orthogonal grassmannian to form a larger OG_k, where 2k is the number of external particles. The invariant information that is encoded in each diagram is precisely this stratification. This information can be easily read off via permutation paths of the on-shell diagram, which also can be used to derive a canonical representation of OG_k that manifests the vanishing of consecutive minors as the singularity of all on-shell diagrams. Quite remarkably, for the BCFW recursion representation of the tree-level amplitudes, the on-shell diagram manifests the presence of all physical factorization poles, as well as the cancellation of the spurious poles. After analytically continuing the orthogonal grassmannian to split signature, we reveal that each on-shell diagram in fact resides in the positive cell of the orthogonal grassmannian, where all minors are positive. In this language, the amplitudes of ABJM theory is simply an integral of a product of dlog forms, over the positive orthogonal grassmannian.

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arXiv2014

The Positive orthogonal Grassmannian and loop amplitudes of ABJM

In this paper we study the combinatorics associated with the positive orthogonal Grassmannian OG_k and its connection to ABJM scattering amplitudes. We present a canonical embedding of OG_k into the Grassmannian Gr(k,2k), from which we deduce the canonical volume form that is invariant under equivalence moves. Remarkably the canonical forms of all reducible graphs can be converted into irreducible ones with products of dLog forms. Unlike N=4 super Yang-Mills, here the Jacobian plays a crucial role to ensure the dLog form of the reduced representation. Furthermore, we identify the functional map that arises from the triangle equivalence move as a 3-string scattering S-matrix which satisfies the tetrahedron equations by Zamolodchikov, implying (2+1)-dimensional integrability. We study the solution to the BCFW recursion relation for loop amplitudes, and demonstrate the presence of all physical singularities as well as the absence of all spurious ones. The on-shell diagram solution to the loop recursion relation exhibits manifest two-site cyclic symmetry and reveals that, to all loop, four and six-point amplitudes only have logarithmic singularities.

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arXiv2013

On Three-Algebra and Bi-Fundamental Matter Amplitudes and Integrability of Supergravity

We explore tree-level amplitude relations for SU(N)xSU(M) bi-fundamental matter theories. Embedding the group-theory structure in a Lie three-algebra, we derive Kleiss-Kuijf-like relations for bi-fundamental matter theories in general dimension. We investigate the three-algebra color-kinematics duality for these theories. Unlike the Yang-Mills two-algebra case, the three-algebra Bern-Carrasco-Johansson relations depend on the spacetime dimension and on the detailed symmetry properties of the structure constants. We find the presence of such relations in three and two dimensions, and absence in D>3. Surprisingly, beyond six point, such relations are absent in the Aharony-Bergman-Jafferis-Maldacena theory for general gauge group, while the Bagger-Lambert-Gustavsson theory, and its supersymmetry truncations, obey the color-kinematics duality like clockwork. At four and six points the relevant partial amplitudes of the two theories are bijectively related, explaining previous results in the literature. In D=2 the color-kinematics duality gives results consistent with integrability of two-dimensional $\mathcal{N}=16$ supergravity: The four-point amplitude satisfies a Yang-Baxter equation; the six- and eight-point amplitudes vanish for certain kinematics away from factorization channels, as expected from integrability.

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arXiv2013

Ultraviolet Cancellations in Half-Maximal Supergravity as a Consequence of the Double-Copy Structure

We show that the double-copy structure of gravity forbids divergences in pure half-maximal (16 supercharge) supergravity at four and five points at one loop in D<8 and at two loops in D<6. We link the cancellations that render these supergravity amplitudes finite to corresponding ones that eliminate forbidden color factors from the divergences of pure nonsupersymmetric Yang-Mills theory. The vanishing of the two-loop four-point divergence in D=5 half-maximal supergravity is an example where a valid counterterm satisfying the known symmetries exists, yet is not present. We also give explicit forms of divergences in half-maximal supergravity at one loop in D=8 and at two loops in D=6.

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arXiv2013

Equivalent D=3 Supergravity Amplitudes from Double Copies of Three-Algebra and Two-Algebra Gauge Theories

We show that three-dimensional supergravity amplitudes can be obtained as double copies of either three-algebra super-Chern-Simons matter theory or that of two-algebra super-Yang-Mills theory, when either theory is organized to display the color-kinematics duality. We prove that only helicity-conserving four-dimensional gravity amplitudes have nonvanishing descendants when reduced to three dimensions; implying the vanishing of odd-multiplicity S-matrix elements, in agreement with Chern-Simons matter theory. We explicitly verify the double-copy correspondence at four and six points for N=12,10,8 supergravity theories and discuss its validity for all multiplicity.

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