A note on multi-trace EYM amplitudes in four dimensions

Abstract

In four dimensions, a tree-level double-trace Einstein-Yang-Mills (EYM) amplitude with two negative-helicity gluons (the (g−, g−)-configuration) satisfies a symmetric spanning forest formula, which was derived from the graphic expansion rule. On another hand, in the framework of Cachazo-He-Yuan (CHY) formula, the maximally-helicity-violating (MHV) amplitudes are supported by the MHV solution of scattering equations. The relationship between the symmetric formula for double-trace amplitudes, and the MHV sector of Cachazo-He-Yuan (CHY) formula in four dimensions is still not clear. In this note, we promote a series of transformations of the spanning forests in four dimensions and then show a systematic way for decomposing the MHV sector of the CHY formula of double-trace EYM amplitudes. Along this line, the symmetric formula of double-trace MHV amplitudes is directly obtained by the MHV sector of CHY formula. We then prove that EYM amplitude with an arbitrary total number of negative-helicity particles (gravitons and gluons) has to vanish when the number of negative- (or positive-) helicity gluons is less than the number of traces.