Modular Graph Functions Research Articles

Integral of depth zero to three basis of Modular Graph Functions

Modular Graph Functions (MGFs) are SL(2,ℤ)-invariant functions that emerge in the study of the low-energy expansion of the one-loop closed string amplitude. To find the string scattering amplitude, we must integrate MGFs over the moduli space of the torus. In this paper, we use the iterated integral representation of MGFs to establish a depth-dependent basis for them, where “depth” refers to the number of iterations in the integral. This basis has a suitable Laplace equation. We integrate this basis from depth zero to depth three over the fundamental domain of SL(2,ℤ) with a cut-off.

Two string theory flavours of generalised Eisenstein series

Generalised Eisenstein series are non-holomorphic modular invariant functions of a complex variable, τ, subject to a particular inhomogeneous Laplace eigenvalue equation on the hyperbolic upper-half τ-plane. Two infinite classes of such functions arise quite naturally within different string theory contexts. A first class can be found by studying the coefficients of the effective action for the low-energy expansion of type IIB superstring theory, and relatedly in the analysis of certain integrated four-point functions of stress tensor multiplet operators in N\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ \\mathcal{N} $$\\end{document} = 4 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory. A second class of such objects is known to contain all two-loop modular graph functions, which are fundamental building blocks in the low-energy expansion of closed-string scattering amplitudes at genus one. In this work, we present a Poincaré series approach that unifies both classes of generalised Eisenstein series and manifests certain algebraic and differential relations amongst them. We then combine this technique with spectral methods for automorphic forms to find general and non-perturbative expansions at the cusp τ → i∞. Finally, we find intriguing connections between the asymptotic expansion of these modular functions as τ → 0 and the non-trivial zeros of the Riemann zeta function.

To the cusp and back: resurgent analysis for modular graph functions

Modular graph functions arise in the calculation of the low-energy expansion of closed-string scattering amplitudes. For toroidal world-sheets, they are SL(2, ℤ)-invariant functions of the torus complex structure that have to be integrated over the moduli space of inequivalent tori. We use methods from resurgent analysis to construct the non-perturbative corrections arising for two-loop modular graph functions when the argument of the function approaches the cusp on this moduli space. SL(2, ℤ)-invariance will in turn strongly constrain the behaviour of the non-perturbative sector when expanded at the origin of the moduli space.

Integrating three-loop modular graph functions and transcendentality of string amplitudes

Modular graph functions (MGFs) are SL(2, ℤ)-invariant functions on the Poincaré upper half-plane associated with Feynman graphs of a conformal scalar field on a torus. The low-energy expansion of genus-one superstring amplitudes involves suitably regularized integrals of MGFs over the fundamental domain for SL(2, ℤ). In earlier work, these integrals were evaluated for all MGFs up to two loops and for higher loops up to weight six. These results led to the conjectured uniform transcendentality of the genus-one four-graviton amplitude in Type II superstring theory. In this paper, we explicitly evaluate the integrals of several infinite families of three-loop MGFs and investigate their transcendental structure. Up to weight seven, the structure of the integral of each individual MGF is consistent with the uniform transcendentality of string amplitudes. Starting at weight eight, the transcendental weights obtained for the integrals of individual MGFs are no longer consistent with the uniform transcendentality of string amplitudes. However, in all the cases we examine, the violations of uniform transcendentality take on a special form given by the integrals of triple products of non-holomorphic Eisenstein series. If Type II superstring amplitudes do exhibit uniform transcendentality, then the special combinations of MGFs which enter the amplitudes must be such that these integrals of triple products of Eisenstein series precisely cancel one another. Whether this indeed is the case poses a novel challenge to the conjectured uniform transcendentality of genus-one string amplitudes.

Laplace-eigenvalue equations for length three modular iterated integrals

A space of modular iterated integrals sits inside the space of real analytic modular forms. We present a theorem for producing length three modular iterated integrals which are not simply combinations of real analytic Eisenstein series; each function has an associated Laplace-eigenvalue equation. This can be viewed as an extension of the length two case recently given by F. Brown, a review of which is included in this paper. We discuss how modular iterated integrals could help understand the modular graph functions which arise in string perturbation theory.

Diagrammatic expansion of non-perturbative little string free energies

In [1] we have studied the single-particle free energy of a class of Little String Theories of A-type, which are engineered by N parallel M5-branes on a circle. To leading instanton order (from the perspective of the low energy U(N) gauge theory) and partially also to higher order, a decomposition was observed, which resembles a Feynman diagrammatic expansion: external states are given by expansion coefficients of the N = 1 BPS free energy and a quasi-Jacobi form that governs the BPS-counting of an M5-brane coupling to two M2-branes. The effective coupling functions were written as infinite series and similarities to modular graph functions were remarked. In the current work we continue and extend this study: working with the full non-perturbative BPS free energy, we analyse in detail the cases N = 2, 3 and 4. We argue that in these cases to leading instanton order all coupling functions can be written as a simple combination of two-point functions of a single free scalar field on the torus. We provide closed form expressions, which we conjecture to hold for generic N. To higher instanton order, we observe that a decomposition of the free energy in terms of higher point functions with the same external states is still possible but a priori not unique. We nevertheless provide evidence that tentative coupling functions are still combinations of scalar Greens functions, which are decorated with derivatives or multiplied with holomorphic Eisenstein series. We interpret these decorations as corrections of the leading order effective couplings and in particular link the latter to dihedral graph functions with bivalent vertices, which suggests an interpretation in terms of disconnected graphs.

Elliptic modular graph forms. Part I. Identities and generating series

Elliptic modular graph functions and forms (eMGFs) are defined for arbitrary graphs as natural generalizations of modular graph functions and forms obtained by including the character of an Abelian group in their Kronecker-Eisenstein series. The simplest examples of eMGFs are given by the Green function for a massless scalar field on the torus and the Zagier single-valued elliptic polylogarithms. More complicated eMGFs are produced by the non-separating degeneration of a higher genus surface to a genus one surface with punctures. eMGFs may equivalently be represented by multiple integrals over the torus of combinations of coefficients of the Kronecker-Eisenstein series, and may be assembled into generating series. These relations are exploited to derive holomorphic subgraph reduction formulas, as well as algebraic and differential identities between eMGFs and their generating series.

Two-loop superstring five-point amplitudes. Part II. Low energy expansion and S-duality

In an earlier paper, we constructed the genus-two amplitudes for five external massless states in Type II and Heterotic string theory, and showed that the α′ expansion of the Type II amplitude reproduces the corresponding supergravity amplitude to leading order. In this paper, we analyze the effective interactions induced by Type IIB superstrings beyond supergravity, both for U(1)R-preserving amplitudes such as for five gravitons, and for U(1)R-violating amplitudes such as for one dilaton and four gravitons. At each order in α′, the coefficients of the effective interactions are given by integrals over moduli space of genus-two modular graph functions, generalizing those already encountered for four external massless states. To leading and sub-leading orders, the coefficients of the effective interactions D2ℛ5 and D4ℛ5 are found to match those of D4ℛ4 and D6ℛ4, respectively, as required by non-linear supersymmetry. To the next order, a D6ℛ5 effective interaction arises, which is independent of the supersymmetric completion of D8ℛ4, and already arose at genus one. A novel identity on genus-two modular graph functions, which we prove, ensures that up to order D6ℛ5, the five-point amplitudes require only a single new modular graph function in addition to those needed for the four-point amplitude. We check that the supergravity limit of U(1)R-violating amplitudes is free of UV divergences to this order, consistently with the known structure of divergences in Type IIB supergravity. Our results give strong consistency tests on the full five-point amplitude, and pave the way for understanding S-duality beyond the BPS-protected sector.

Poisson equations for elliptic modular graph functions

We obtain Poisson equations satisfied by elliptic modular graph functions with four links. Analysis of these equations leads to a non–trivial algebraic relation between the various graphs.

Massive deformations of Maass forms and Jacobi forms

We define one-parameter "massive" deformations of Maass forms and Jacobi forms. This is inspired by descriptions of plane gravitational waves in string theory. Examples include massive Green's functions (that we write in terms of Kronecker-Eisenstein series) and massive modular graph functions.

Relations between elliptic modular graphs

We consider certain elliptic modular graph functions that arise in the asymptotic expansion around the non-separating node of genus two string invariants that appear in the integrand of the D8ℛ4 interaction in the low momentum expansion of the four graviton amplitude in type II superstring theory. These elliptic modular graphs have links given by the Green function, as well its holomorphic and anti-holomorphic derivatives. Using appropriate auxiliary graphs at various intermediate stages of the analysis, we show that each graph can be expressed solely in terms of graphs with links given only by the Green function and not its derivatives. This results in a reduction in the number of basis elements in the space of elliptic modular graphs.

Zero mode of the Fourier series of some modular graphs from Poincaré series

We consider specific linear combinations of two loop modular graph functions on the toroidal worldsheet with 2s links for s=2,3 and 4. In each case, it satisfies an eigenvalue equation with source terms involving E2s and Es2 only. On removing certain combinations of E2s and Es2 from it, we express the resulting expression as an absolutely convergent Poincaré series. This is used to calculate the power behaved terms in the asymptotic expansion of the zero mode of the Fourier expansion of these graphs in a simple manner.

From little string free energies towards modular graph functions

We study the structure of the non-perturbative free energy of a one-parameter class of little string theories (LSTs) of A-type in the so-called unrefined limit. These theories are engineered by N M5-branes probing a transverse flat space. By analysing a number of examples, we observe a pattern which suggests to write the free energy in a fashion that resembles a decomposition into higher-point functions which can be presented in a graphical way reminiscent of sums of (effective) Feynman diagrams: to leading order in the instanton parameter of the LST, the N external states are given either by the fundamental building blocks of the theory with N = 1, or the function that governs the counting of BPS states of a single M5-brane coupling to one M2-brane on either side. These states are connected via an effective coupling function which encodes the details of the gauge algebra of the LST and which in its simplest (non-trivial) form is captured by the scalar Greens function on the torus. More complicated incarnations of this function show certain similarities with so-called modular graph functions, which have appeared in the study of Feynman amplitudes in string- and field theory. Finally, similar structures continue to exist at higher instanton orders, which, however, also contain contributions that can be understood as the action of (Hecke) operators on the leading instanton result.

Integral of two-loop modular graph functions

The integral of an arbitrary two-loop modular graph function over the fundamental domain for SL(2, ℤ) in the upper half plane is evaluated using recent results on the Poincaré series for these functions.

Modular graph functions and odd cuspidal functions. Fourier and Poincar\xe9 series

Modular graph functions are SL(2, ℤ)-invariant functions associated with Feynman graphs of a two-dimensional conformal field theory on a torus of modulus τ. For one-loop graphs they reduce to real analytic Eisenstein series. We obtain the Fourier series, including the constant and non-constant Fourier modes, of all two-loop modular graph functions, as well as their Poincaré series with respect to Γ∞\\PSL(2, ℤ). The Fourier and Poincaré series provide the tools to compute the Petersson inner product of two-loop modular graph functions using Rankin-Selberg-Zagier methods. Modular graph functions which are odd under τ → − overline{tau} are cuspidal functions, with exponential decay near the cusp, and exist starting at two loops. Holomorphic subgraph reduction and the sieve algorithm, developed in earlier work, are used to give a lower bound on the dimension of the space mathfrak{A} w of odd two-loop modular graph functions of weight w. For w ≤ 11 the bound is saturated and we exhibit a basis for mathfrak{A} w.

Eigenvalue equation for genus two modular graphs

We obtain a second order differential equation on moduli space satisfied by certain modular graph functions at genus two, each of which has two links. This eigenvalue equation is obtained by analyzing the variations of these graphs under the variation of the Beltrami differentials. This equation involves seven distinct graphs, three of which appear in the integrand of the D8 mathrm{mathcal{R}} 4 term in the low momentum expansion of the four graviton amplitude at genus two in type II string theory.

From elliptic multiple zeta values to modular graph functions: open and closed strings at one loop

We relate one-loop scattering amplitudes of massless open- and closed-string states at the level of their low-energy expansion. The modular graph functions resulting from integration over closed-string punctures are observed to follow from symmetrized open-string integrals through a tentative generalization of the single-valued projection known from genus zero.

Higher Genus Modular Graph Functions, String Invariants, and their Exact Asymptotics

The concept and the construction of modular graph functions are generalized from genus-one to higher genus surfaces. The integrand of the four-graviton superstring amplitude at genus-two provides a generating function for a special class of such functions. A general method is developed for analyzing the behavior of modular graph functions under non-separating degenerations in terms of a natural real parameter t. For arbitrary genus, the Arakelov–Green function and the Kawazumi–Zhang invariant degenerate to a Laurent polynomial in t of degree (1, 1) in the limit \({t\to\infty}\) . For genus two, each coefficient of the low energy expansion of the string amplitude degenerates to a Laurent polynomial of degree (w, w) in t, where w + 2 is the degree of homogeneity in the kinematic invariants. These results are exact to all orders in t, up to exponentially suppressed corrections. The non-separating degeneration of a general class of modular graph functions at arbitrary genus is sketched and similarly results in a Laurent polynomial in t of bounded degree. The coefficients in the Laurent polynomial are generalized modular graph functions for a punctured Riemann surface of lower genus.

Asymptotics of the $D^8 \mathcal{R}^4$ genus-two string invariant

We continue our investigation of the modular graph functions and string invariants that arise at genus-two as coefficients of low energy effective interactions in Type II superstring theory. In previous work, the non-separating degeneration of a genus-two modular graph function of weight $w$ was shown to be given by a Laurent polynomial in the degeneration parameter $t$ of degree $(w,w)$. The coefficients of this polynomial generalize genus-one modular graph functions, up to terms which are exponentially suppressed in $t$ as $t \to \infty$ In this paper, we evaluate this expansion explicitly for the modular graph functions associated with the $D^8 \mathcal{R}^4$ effective interaction for which the Laurent polynomial has degree $(2, 2)$. We also prove that the separating degeneration is given by a polynomial in the degeneration parameter $\mathrm{ln}(\lvert v \rvert)$ up to contributions which are power-behaved in $v$ as $v \to 0$. We further extract the complete, or tropical, degeneration and compare it with the independent calculation of the integrand of the sum of Feynman diagrams that contributes to two-loop type II supergravity expanded to the same order in the low energy expansion.We find that the tropical limit of the string theory integrand reproduces the supergravity integrand as its leading term, but also includes sub-leading terms proportional to odd zeta values that are absent in supergravity and can be ascribed to higher-derivative stringy interactions.

Supergravity limit of genus two modular graph functions in the worldline formalism

We consider the contributions up to the D10R4 terms in the low momentum expansion of the two loop four graviton amplitude in maximal supergravity that arise in the field theory limit of genus two modular graph functions that result from the low momentum expansion of the four graviton amplitude in toroidally compactified type II string theory, using the worldline formalism of the first quantized superparticle. The expression for the two loop supergravity amplitude in the worldline formalism allows us to obtain contributions from the individual graphs, unlike the expression for the same amplitude obtained using unitarity cuts which only gives the total contribution from the sum of all the graphs. Our two loop analysis is field theoretic, and does not make explicit use of the genus two string amplitude.