Generalizing event shapes: in search of lost collider time

Abstract

We introduce a new class of collider-type observables in conformal field theories which we call generalized event shapes. They are defined as matrix elements of light-ray operators that are sensitive to the longitudinal, or time-dependent, structure of the state produced in the collision. Generalized event shapes can be studied using both correlation functions and scattering amplitudes. They are infrared finite and smoothly transit over to the familiar event shapes. We compute them in planar mathcal{N} = 4 super-Yang-Mills theory at weak and strong coupling, and study their physical properties. We show that at strong coupling both the stringy and quantum-gravitational corrections to the energy-energy correlation exhibit longitudinal broadening that manifests itself through the presence of long-time tails in the energy flux measured by the detectors.