Gluon Amplitudes Research Articles

Group-theoretic relations for amplitudes in gauge theories with orthogonal and symplectic groups

It is important to find nontrivial constraint relations for color-ordered amplitudes in gauge theories. In the past several years, a pure group-theoretic iterative method has been proposed to derive linear constraints on color-ordered amplitudes in SU(N) gauge theories. In this paper, we use the same method to derive linear constraints on four-point gluon amplitudes in SO(N) and Sp(2N) gauge theories. These constraints are derived up to four-loop order. It is found that there are $n=1,6,10,13,16$ constraint relations at $L=0,1,2,3,4$ loop orders in both SO(N) and Sp(2N) cases. Correspondingly, the numbers of independent four-point color-ordered amplitudes are $2,3, 5, 8, 11$ at $L=0,1,2,3,4$ loop orders in both theories.

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.

Berends-Giele recursions and the BCJ duality in superspace and components

The recursive method of Berends and Giele to compute tree-level gluon amplitudes is revisited using the framework of ten-dimensional super Yang-Mills. First we prove that the pure spinor formula to compute SYM tree amplitudes derived in 2010 reduces to the standard Berends-Giele formula from the 80s when restricted to gluon amplitudes and additionally determine the fermionic completion. Second, using BRST cohomology manipulations in superspace, alternative representations of the component amplitudes are explored and the Bern-Carrasco-Johansson relations among partial tree amplitudes are derived in a novel way. Finally, it is shown how the supersymmetric components of manifestly local BCJ-satisfying tree-level numerators can be computed in a recursive fashion.

CHY Representation of the Massive Six Quark Amplitude in QCD

The Cachazo-He-Yuan (CHY) representation for tree-level scattering ampli- tudes based on the so called scattering equations is proved to hold for six quarks QCD primitive amplitudes. Since the CHY representation allows to separate information into a factor which depends upon the helicities of the particles and into a factor depending on the ordering of the external particles, we prove that the external orderings of a minimal amplitude basis for three quarks pairs remain linearly independent, when viewed as the external orderings of the pure gluonic amplitudes.

Double-soft behavior for scalars and gluons from string theory

We compute the leading double-soft behavior for gluons and for the scalars obtained by dimensional reduction of a higher dimensional pure gauge theory, from the scattering amplitudes of gluons and scalars living in the world-volume of a Dp-brane of the bosonic string. In the case of gluons, we compute both the double-soft behavior when the two soft gluons are contiguous as well as when they are not contiguous. From our results, that are valid in string theory, one can easily get the double-soft limit in gauge field theory by sending the string tension to infinity.

Proof of the fundamental BCJ relations for QCD amplitudes

The fundamental BCJ-relation is a linear relation between primitive tree amplitudes with different cyclic orderings. The cyclic orderings differ by the insertion place of one gluon. The coefficients of the fundamental BCJ-relation are linear in the Lorentz invariants 2p i p j . The BCJ-relations are well established for pure gluonic amplitudes as well as for amplitudes in $$ \mathcal{N}=4 $$ super-Yang-Mills theory. Recently, it has been conjectured that the BCJ-relations hold also for QCD amplitudes. In this paper we give a proof of this conjecture. The proof is valid for massless and massive quarks.

Double-soft limits of gluons and gravitons

The double-soft limit of gluon and graviton amplitudes is studied in four dimensions at tree level. In general this limit is ambiguous and we introduce two natural ways of taking it: a consecutive double-soft limit where one particle is taken soft before the other and a simultaneous limit where both particles are taken soft uniformly. All limits yield universal factorisation formulae which we establish by BCFW recursion relations down to the subleading order in the soft momentum expansion. These formulae generalise the recently discussed subleading single-soft theorems. While both types of limits yield identical results at the leading order, differences appear at the subleading order. Finally, we discuss double-scalar emission in $$ \mathcal{N}=4 $$ super Yang-Mills theory. These results should be of use in establishing the algebraic structure of potential hidden symmetries in the quantum gravity and Yang-Mills S-matrix.

Recursion in multiplet bases for tree-level MHV gluon amplitudes

We investigate the construction of tree-level MHV gluon amplitudes in multiplet bases using BCFW recursion. The multiplet basis decomposition can either be obtained by decomposing results derived in (for example) the DDM basis or by formulating the recursion directly in the multiplet basis. We focus on the latter approach and show how to efficiently deal with the color structure appearing in the recursion. For illustration, we also explicitly calculate the four-, five- and six-gluon amplitudes.

Analyzing high-energy factorization beyond next-to-leading logarithmic accuracy

We provide a complete and detailed study of the high-energy limit of four-parton scattering amplitudes in QCD, giving explicit results at two loops and higher orders, and going beyond next-to-leading logarithmic (NLL) accuracy. Building upon recent results, we use the techniques of infrared factorization to investigate the failure of the simplest form of Regge factorization, starting at next-to-next-to-leading logarithmic accuracy (NNLL) in ln(s/|t|). We provide detailed accounts and explicit expressions for the terms responsible for this breaking in the case of two-loop and three-loop quark and gluon amplitudes in QCD; in particular, we recover and explain a known non-logarithmic double-pole contribution at two-loops, and we compute all non-factorizing single-logarithmic singular contributions at three loops. Conversely, we use high-energy factorization to show that the hard functions of infrared factorization vanish in d = 4 to all orders in the coupling, up to NLL accuracy in ln(s/|t|). This provides clear evidence for the infrared origin of high-energy logarithms. Finally, we extend earlier studies to t-channel exchanges of color representations beyond the octet, which enables us to give predictions based on the dipole formula for single-pole NLL contributions at three and four loops.

Einstein-Yang-Mills scattering amplitudes from scattering equations

We present the building blocks that can be combined to produce tree-level S-matrix elements of a variety of theories with various spins mixed in arbitrary dimensions. The new formulas for the scattering of n massless particles are given by integrals over the positions of n points on a sphere restricted to satisfy the scattering equations. As applications, we obtain all single-trace amplitudes in Einstein-Yang-Mills (EYM) theory, and generalizations to include scalars. Also in EYM but extended by a B-field and a dilaton, we present all double-trace gluon amplitudes. The building blocks are made of Pfaffians and Parke-Taylor-like factors of subsets of particle labels.

Little string amplitudes (and the unreasonable effectiveness of 6D SYM)

We study tree level scattering amplitudes of four massless states in the double scaled little string theory, and compare them to perturbative loop amplitudes in six-dimensional super-Yang-Mills theory. The little string amplitudes are computed from correlators in the cigar coset CFT and in N=2 minimal models. The results are expressed in terms of integrals of conformal blocks and evaluated numerically in the alpha' expansion. We find striking agreements with up to 2-loop scattering amplitudes of massless gluons in 6D SU(k) SYM at a Z_k invariant point on the Coulomb branch. We comment on the issue of UV divergence at higher loop orders in the gauge theory and discuss the implication of our results.

Light-front quantum chromodynamics: A framework for the analysis of hadron physics

An outstanding goal of physics is to find solutions that describe hadrons in the theory of strong interactions, Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD). For this goal, the light-front Hamiltonian formulation of QCD (LFQCD) is a complementary approach to the well-established lattice gauge method. LFQCD offers access to the hadrons' nonperturbative quark and gluon amplitudes, which are directly testable in experiments at existing and future facilities. We present an overview of the promises and challenges of LFQCD in the context of unsolved issues in QCD that require broadened and accelerated investigation. We identify specific goals of this approach and address its quantifiable uncertainties.

High-energy QCD amplitudes at two loops and beyond

Recent progress in our understanding of infrared singularities of multi-parton amplitudes has shown that the simplest form of Regge factorization for high-energy gauge-theory amplitudes fails starting at next-to-next-to-leading logarithmic accuracy. We provide a framework to organize the calculation of parton amplitudes at leading power in t/s, in terms of factorizing and non-factorizing contributions. This allows us to give explicit expressions for the leading reggeization-breaking terms in two-loop and three-loop quark and gluon amplitudes in QCD. In particular, using only infrared information, we recover a known non-factorizing, non-logarithmic double-pole contribution at two-loops, and we compute the leading non-factorizing single-logarithmic contributions at three loops.

Holonomies of gauge fields in twistor space 6: Incorporation of massive fermions

Following the previous paper arXiv:1205.4827, we formulate an S-matrix functional for massive fermion ultra-helicity-violating (UHV) amplitudes, i.e., scattering amplitudes of positive-helicity gluons and a pair of massive fermions. The S-matrix functional realizes a massive extension of the Cachazo–Svrcek–Witten (CSW) rules in a functional language. Mass-dimension analysis implies that interactions among gluons and massive fermions should be decomposed into three-point massive fermion subamplitudes. Namely, such interactions are represented by combinations of three-point UHV and next-to-UHV (NUHV) vertices. This feature is qualitatively different from the massive scalar amplitudes where the number of involving gluons can be arbitrary.

A two-loop five-gluon helicity amplitude in QCD

We compute the planar part of the two-loop five gluon amplitude with all helicities positive. To perform the calculation we develop a D-dimensional generalized unitarity procedure allowing us to reconstruct the amplitude by cutting into products of six-dimensional trees. We find a compact form for the integrand which only requires topologies with six or more propagators. We perform cross checks of the universal infra-red structure using numerical integration techniques.

Vacuum instabilities with a wrong-sign Higgs–gluon–gluon amplitude

The recently discovered 125 GeV boson appears very similar to a Standard Model (SM) Higgs, but with data favoring an enhanced h → γγ rate. A number of groups have found that fits would allow (or, less so after the latest updates, prefer) that the coupling have the opposite sign. This can be given meaning in the context of an electroweak chiral Lagrangian, but it might also be interpreted to mean that a new colored and charged particle runs in loops and reinforces the W-loop contribution to hFF, while also producing the opposite-sign hGG amplitude to that generated by integrating out the top. Due to a correlation in sign of the new physics amplitudes, when the SM hFF coupling is enhanced the hGG coupling is decreased. Thus, in order to not suppress the rate of h → WW and h → ZZ, which appear to be approximately SM-like, one would need the loop to ‘overshoot’, not only canceling the top contribution but producing an opposite-sign hGG vertex of about the same magnitude as that in the SM. We argue that most such explanations have severe problems with fine-tuning and, more importantly, vacuum stability. In particular, the case of stop loops producing an opposite-sign hGG vertex of the same size as the SM one is ruled out by a combination of vacuum decay bounds and Large Electron–Positron Collider (LEP) constraints. We also show that scenarios with a sign flip from loops of color octet charged scalars or new fermionic states are highly constrained.

One-loop four-point amplitudes in pure and matter-coupled $ \mathcal{N}\leq 4 $ supergravity

We construct all supergravity theories that can be obtained through factorized orbifold projections of $ \mathcal{N}=8 $ supergravity, exposing their double-copy structure, and calculate their one-loop four-point scattering amplitudes. We observe a unified structure in both matter and gravity amplitudes, and demonstrate that the four-graviton amplitudes are insensitive to the precise nature of the matter couplings. We show that these amplitudes are identical for the two different realizations of $ \mathcal{N}=4 $ supergravity with two vector multiplets, and argue that this feature extends to all multiplicities and loop orders as well as to higher dimensions. We also construct a selected set of supergravities obtained through a non-factorized orbifold action. Furthermore we calculate one-loop four-point amplitudes for all pure super-Yang-Mills theories with less-than-maximal supersymmetry using the duality between color and kinematics, finding here a unified expression that holds for all four gluon amplitudes in these theories. We recover the related amplitudes of factorized $ \mathcal{N}\leq 4 $ supergravities employing the double-copy construction. We observe a requirement that the four-point loop-level amplitudes have non-local integrand representations, exhibiting a mild non-locality in the form of inverse powers of the three external Mandelstam invariants. These are the first loop-level color-kinematic-satisfying representations in reduced supersymmetry theories.

Gluon Wavefunctions and Amplitudes on the Light-Front

We investigate the tree level multi-gluon components of the gluon light cone wavefunctions in the light cone gauge keeping the exact kinematics of the gluon emissions. We focus on the components with all helicities identical to the helicity of the incoming gluon. The recurrence relations for the gluon wavefunctions are derived. In the case when the virtuality of the incoming gluon is neglected the exact form of the multi-gluon wavefunction as well as the fragmentation function is obtained. Furthermore we analyze the 2 to N tree-level gluon scattering in the framework of light-front perturbation theory and we demonstrate that the amplitude for this process can be obtained from the 1 to N+1 gluon wavefunction. Finally, we demonstrate that our results for selected helicity configurations are equivalent to the Parke-Taylor amplitudes.

Holonomies of gauge fields in twistor space 5: Amplitudes of gluons and massive scalars

Scattering amplitudes of gluons coupled with a pair of massive scalars, so-called massive scalar amplitudes, provide the simplest yet physically useful examples of massive amplitudes. In this paper we construct an S-matrix functional for the massive scalar amplitudes in a recently developed holonomy formalism in supertwistor space. From the S-matrix functional we derive ultra helicity violating (UHV), as well as next-to-UHV (NUHV), massive scalar amplitudes at tree level in a form that agrees with previously known results. We also obtain recursive expressions for non-UHV tree amplitudes in general. These results will open up a new avenue to the study of phenomenology in the spinor-helicity formalism.

CONFORMAL INVARIANCE OF TENSOR BOSON TREE AMPLITUDES

The BCFW recursion relation allows to find out the tree-level scattering amplitudes for gluons and tensor gauge bosons in generalized Yang–Mills theory. We demonstrate that the corresponding MHV amplitudes for the tensor gauge bosons of spin-s and n gluons are invariant under conformal group of transformations. This is highly unexpected result for the higher-spin particles, in particular this is not true for the scattering amplitudes of gravitons. We discuss and compare the tree-level scattering amplitudes for the charged tensor bosons with the corresponding scattering amplitudes for gravitons, stressing their differences and similarities.