Yangian Symmetry Research Articles

Geometry from integrability: multi-leg fishnet integrals in two dimensions

We generalise the geometric analysis of square fishnet integrals in two dimensions to the case of hexagonal fishnets with three-point vertices. Our results support the conjecture that fishnet Feynman integrals in two dimensions, together with their associated geometry, are completely fixed by their Yangian and permutation symmetries. As a new feature for the hexagonal fishnets, the star-triangle identity introduces an ambiguity in the graph representation of a given Feynman integral. This translates into a map between different geometric interpretations attached to a graph. We demonstrate explicitly how these fishnet integrals can be understood as Calabi-Yau varieties, whose Picard-Fuchs ideals are generated by the Yangian over the conformal algebra. In analogy to elliptic curves, which represent the simplest examples of fishnet integrals with four-point vertices, we find that the simplest examples of three-point fishnets correspond to Picard curves with natural generalisations at higher loop orders.

From fermionic spin-Calogero–Sutherland models to the Haldane–Shastry chain by freezing

The Haldane–Shastry spin chain has a myriad of remarkable properties, including Yangian symmetry and, for spin 1/2 , explicit highest-weight eigenvectors featuring (the case α=1/2 of) Jack polynomials. This stems from the spin-Calogero–Sutherland model, which reduces to Haldane–Shastry in a special ‘freezing’ limit. In this work we clarify various points that, to the best of our knowledge, were missing in the literature. We have two main results. First, we show that freezing the fermionic spin-1/2 Calogero–Sutherland model naturally accounts for the precise form of the Haldane–Shastry wave functions, including the Vandermonde factor squared. Second, we use the fermionic framework to prove the claim of Bernard–Gaudin–Haldane–Pasquier that the Yangian highest-weight eigenvectors of the SU(r) -version of the Haldane–Shastry chain arise by freezing SU(r−1) spin-Calogero–Sutherland eigenvectors at α=1/2 .

Integrability for Feynman integrals

We give a brief overview of the Yangian symmetry of Feynman integrals. After a short introduction to the Yangian and integrability, we motivate the emergence of integrable structures for Feynman integrals via the fishnet limit of AdS/CFT. We discuss the resulting Yangian differential equations for massless fishnets in four dimensions as well as generalizations to massive propagators and generic dimensions. We also comment on the relation to momentum space conformal symmetry and on examples in dimensional regularization. Finally we sketch the recent application to fishnet integrals in two spacetime dimensions and the curious identification of Yangian invariants with period integrals of Calabi-Yau geometries.

Yangian symmetry applied to quantum chromodynamics

We review applications of Yangian symmetry to high-energy Quantum chromodynamics (QCD) phenomenology. Some basic facts about high-energy QCD are recalled, in particular the spinor-helicity form of scattering amplitudes, the scale evolution equations of deep-inelastic scattering structure functions and the high-energy asymptotics of scattering. As the working tool the Yangian symmetric correlators are introduced and constructed in the framework of the Yangian algebra of [Formula: see text] type. We present the application to the tree scattering amplitudes and their iterative relation, to the parton splitting amplitudes and the kernels of the scale evolution equations of structure functions and to the equations describing the high-energy asymptotics of scattering.

Non-planar BCFW Grassmannian geometries

In this paper, we study non-adjacent BCFW recursion relations and their connection to positive geometry. For an adjacent BCFW shift, the n-point NkMHV tree-level amplitude in mathcal{N} = 4 SYM theory is expressed as a sum over planar on-shell diagrams, corresponding to canonical “dlog” forms on the cells in the positive Grassmannian G+(k, n). Non-adjacent BCFW shifts naturally lead to an expansion of the amplitude in terms of a different set of objects, which do not manifest the cyclic ordering and the hidden Yangian symmetry of the amplitude. We show that these terms can be interpreted as dlog forms on the non-planar Grassmannian geometries, generalizing the cells of the positive Grassmannian G+(k, n) to a larger class of objects which live in G(k, n). We focus mainly on the case of NMHV amplitudes and discuss in detail the Grassmannian geometries. We also propose an alternative way to calculate the associated on-shell functions and dlog forms using an intriguing connection between Grassmannian configurations and the geometry in the kinematical space.

Yangian Symmetry in Five Dimensions.

Quantum gravity in AdS_{7}×S^{4} is dual to a six-dimensional (6D) superconformal field theory, known as the 6D (2,0) theory, which is very challenging to describe because it lacks a conventional Lagrangian description. On the other hand, certain null reductions of the 6D (2,0) theory give rise to 5D Lagrangian theories with SU(1,3) spacetime symmetry, SO(5) R symmetry, and 24 supercharges. This appears to be closely related to the superconformal group of a 3D superconformal Chern-Simons theory known as the Aharony-Bergman-Jafferis-Maldacena theory, which is believed to be integrable in the planar limit, if one exchanges the role of conformal and R symmetry. In this Letter, we construct a representation of the 5D superconformal group using 6D supertwistors and show that it admits an infinite dimensional extension known as Yangian symmetry, which opens up the possibility that these 5D theories are exactly solvable in the planar limit.

Yangian Symmetry in Holographic Correlators.

We point out that an infinite class of Witten diagrams is invariant under a Yangian symmetry. These diagrams are building blocks of holographic correlators and are related by a web of differential recursion relations. We show that Yangian invariance is equivalent to the consistency conditions of the recursion relations.

Yangian bootstrap for massive Feynman integrals

We extend the study of the recently discovered Yangian symmetry of massive Feynman integrals and its relation to massive momentum space conformal symmetry. After proving the symmetry statements in detail at one and two loop orders, we employ the conformal and Yangian constraints to bootstrap various one-loop examples of massive Feynman integrals. In particular, we explore the interplay between Yangian symmetry and hypergeometric expressions of the considered integrals. Based on these examples we conjecture single series representations for all dual conformal one-loop integrals in D spacetime dimensions with generic massive propagators.

Massive fishnets

Recently, infinite families of massive Feynman integrals were found to feature an unexpected Yangian symmetry. In the massless case, similar integrability properties are understood via the interpretation of individual Feynman integrals as correlators in the massless fishnet theory introduced by Gürdoğan and Kazakov. Here we seek for an analogous interpretation of the integrability of massive Feynman integrals. We contrast two approaches to define simple massive quantum field theories in four dimensions. First, we discuss spontaneous symmetry breaking in the massless bi-scalar fishnet theory. We then propose an alternative route to a massive fishnet theory by taking a double-scaling limit of mathcal{N} = 4 SYM theory on the Coulomb branch. Both approaches lead to a massive extension of the massless fishnet theory, differing in how masses enter into the propagators. In the latter theory, planar off-shell amplitudes are in one-to-one correspondence with precisely those massive Feynman integrals that were shown to be invariant under the Yangian. This suggests a re-investigation of Coulomb branch mathcal{N} = 4 SYM theory with regard to integrability. Finally, we demonstrate that in the case of spontaneous symmetry breaking, the original conformal symmetry leads to soft theorems for scattering amplitudes in the broken phase.

Massive Conformal Symmetry and Integrability for Feynman Integrals

In the context of planar holography, integrability plays an important role for solving certain massless quantum field theories such as N=4 super Yang-Mills theory. In this Letter, we show that integrability also features in the building blocks of massive quantum field theories. At one-loop order we prove that all massive n-gon Feynman integrals in generic spacetime dimensions are invariant under a massive Yangian symmetry. At two loops similar statements can be proven for graphs built from two n-gons. At generic loop order we conjecture that all graphs cut from regular tilings of the plane with massive propagators on the boundary are invariant. We support this conjecture by a number of numerical tests for higher loops and legs. The observed Yangian extends the bosonic part of the massive dual conformal symmetry that was found a decade ago on the Coulomb branch of N=4 super Yang-Mills theory. By translating the Yangian level-one generators from dual to original momentum space, we introduce a massive generalization of momentum space conformal symmetry. Even for non-dual-conformal integrals this novel symmetry persists. The Yangian can thus be understood as the closure of massive dual conformal symmetry and this new massive momentum space conformal symmetry, which suggests an interpretation via AdS/CFT. As an application of our findings, we bootstrap the hypergeometric building blocks for examples of massive Feynman integrals.

A novel class of translationally invariant spin chains with long-range interactions

We introduce a new class of open, translationally invariant spin chains with long-range interactions depending on both spin permutation and (polarized) spin reversal operators, which includes the Haldane-Shastry chain as a particular degenerate case. The new class is characterized by the fact that the Hamiltonian is invariant under “twisted” translations, combining an ordinary translation with a spin flip at one end of the chain. It includes a remarkable model with elliptic spin-spin interactions, smoothly interpolating between the XXX Heisenberg model with anti-periodic boundary conditions and a new open chain with sites uniformly spaced on a half-circle and interactions inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the spins. We are able to compute in closed form the partition function of the latter chain, thereby obtaining a complete description of its spectrum in terms of a pair of independent su(1|1) and su(m/2) motifs when the number m of internal degrees of freedom is even. This implies that the even m model is invariant under the direct sum of the Yangians Y (gl(1|1)) and Y (gl(0|m/2)). We also analyze several statistical properties of the new chain’s spectrum. In particular, we show that it is highly degenerate, which strongly suggests the existence of an underlying (twisted) Yangian symmetry also for odd m.

Disordered Haldane-Shastry model

The Haldane-Shastry model is one of the most studied interacting spin systems. The Yangian symmetry makes it exactly solvable, and the model has semionic excitations. We introduce disorder into the Haldane-Shastry model by allowing the spins to sit at random positions on the unit circle and study the properties of the eigenstates. At weak disorder, the spectrum is similar to the spectrum of the clean Haldane-Shastry model. At strong disorder, the long-range interactions in the model do not decay as a simple power law. The eigenstates in the middle of the spectrum follow a volume law, but the coefficient is small, and the entropy is hence much less than for an ergodic system. In addition, the energy level spacing statistics is neither Poissonian nor of the Wigner-Dyson type. The behavior at strong disorder hence serves as an example of a non-ergodic phase, which is not of the many-body localized kind, in a model with long-range interactions and SU(2) symmetry.

Scattering amplitudes in mathcal{N} = 3 supersymmetric SU(N) Chern-Simons-matter theory at large N

We study mathcal{N} = 3 supersymmetric Chern-Simons-matter theory coupled to matter in the fundamental representation of SU(N). In the ’t Hooft large N limit, we compute the exact 2 → 2 scattering amplitudes of the fundamental scalar superfields to all orders in the ’t Hooft coupling λ. Our computations are presented in mathcal{N} = 1 superspace and make significant use of the residual SO(2)R symmetry in order to solve for the exact four-point correlator of the scalar superfields. By taking the on-shell limit, we are able to extract the exact 2 → 2 scattering amplitudes of bosons/fermions in the symmetric, anti-symmetric and adjoint channels of scattering. We find that the scattering amplitude of the mathcal{N} = 3 theory in the planar limit is tree-level exact to all orders in the ’t Hooft coupling λ. The result is consistent with the conjectured bosonization duality and is expected to have enhanced symmetry structures such as dual superconformal symmetry and Yangian symmetry.

Yangian bootstrap for conformal Feynman integrals

We explore the idea to bootstrap Feynman integrals using integrability. In particular, we put the recently discovered Yangian symmetry of conformal Feynman integrals to work. As a prototypical example we demonstrate that the D-dimensional box integral with generic propagator powers is completely fixed by its symmetries to be a particular linear combination of Appell hypergeometric functions. In this context the Bloch-Wigner function arises as a special Yangian invariant in 4D. The bootstrap procedure for the box integral is naturally structured in algorithmic form. We then discuss the Yangian constraints for the six-point double box integral as well as for the related hexagon. For the latter we argue that the constraints are solved by a set of generalized Lauricella functions and we comment on complications in identifying the integral as a certain linear combination of these. Finally, we elaborate on the close relation to the Mellin-Barnes technique and argue that it generates Yangian invariants as sums of residues.

Dual superconformal symmetry of mathcal{N} = 2 Chern-Simons theory with fundamental matter at large N

Dual conformal symmetry and Yangian symmetry are symmetries of amplitudes that have aided the study of scattering amplitudes in highly supersymmetric theories like mathcal{N} = 4 SYM and ABJM. However, in general such symmetries are absent from the theories with lesser or no supersymmetry. In this paper, we show that the tree level 2 → 2 scattering amplitude in the 3d mathcal{N} = 2 Chern-Simons theory coupled to a fundamental chiral multiplet is dual superconformal invariant. In the ’t Hooft large N limit, the 2 → 2 scattering amplitude in this theory has been shown to be tree-level exact in non-anyonic channels, while having only an overall multiplicative coupling dependent renormalisation in the anyonic channel. Therefore, the dual superconformal symmetry that we demonstrate in this paper is all loop exact. This is unlike the previously studied highly supersymmetric theories where dual superconformal symmetry is anomalous at loop levels.Furthermore, we reverse the argument to study the extent to which dual superconformal invariance fixes the scattering amplitude in an mathcal{N} = 2 supersymmetric theory. We demonstrate that requiring the dual superconformal invariance completely fixes the momentum dependence of the 2 → 2 amplitude, while the coupling constant dependence remain unfixed. Further, we use a combination of parity invariance, unitarity and self-duality of the amplitude to constrain the coupling dependence of scattering amplitude.

QCD at High Energies and Yangian Symmetry

Yangian symmetric correlators provide a tool to investigate integrability features of QCD at high energies. We discuss the kernel of the equation of perturbative Regge asymptotics, the kernels of the evolution equation of parton distributions, Born scattering amplitudes and coupling renormalization.

Nonlocal symmetries and factorized scattering

Conventionally, factorized scattering in two dimensions is argued to be a consequence of the conservation of local higher charges. However, integrability may well be realized via nonlocal charges, while higher local charges are not known. Here we address the question of whether a nonlocal Yangian symmetry implies factorized scattering of the S-matrix. We explicitly study the constraints on three-particle scattering processes of particles transforming in the fundamental representations of , , and the centrally extended underlying the dynamic scattering and hexagon form factors in AdS/CFT. These considerations shed light on the role of the Yangian as an axiomatic input for the bootstrap program for integrable theories.

Nested Algebraic Bethe Ansatz for Open Spin Chains with Even Twisted Yangian Symmetry

We present a nested algebraic Bethe ansatz for a one dimensional open spin chain whose boundary quantum spaces are irreducible $\mathfrak{so}_{2n}$- or $\mathfrak{sp}_{2n}$-representations and the monodromy matrix satisfies the defining relations of the Olshanskii twisted Yangian $Y^\pm(\mathfrak{gl}_{2n})$. We use a generalization of the Bethe ansatz introduced by De Vega and Karowski which allows us to relate the spectral problem of a $\mathfrak{so}_{2n}$- or $\mathfrak{sp}_{2n}$-symmetric open spin chain to that of a $\mathfrak{gl}_{n}$-symmetric periodic spin chain. We explicitly derive the structure of the Bethe vectors and the nested Bethe equations.

Yangian symmetry of string theory on AdS3 × S3 × S3 × S1 with mixed 3-form flux

We find the Yangian symmetry underlying the integrability of type IIB superstrings on AdS3×S3×S3×S1 with mixed Ramond–Ramond and Neveu–Schwarz–Neveu–Schwarz flux. The abstract commutation relations of the Yangian are formulated via RTT realisation, while its matrix realisation is in an evaluation representation depending on the quantised coefficient of the Wess–Zumino term. The construction naturally encodes a secret symmetry of the worldsheet scattering matrix whose generators map different Yangian levels to each other. We show that in the large effective string tension limit the Yangian becomes a deformation of a unitary loop algebra and we derive its universal classical r-matrix.

Yangian algebra and correlation functions in planar Gauge theories

In this work we consider colour-ordered correlation functions of the fields in integrable planar gauge theories such as \superN=4 supersymmetric Yang–Mills theory with the aim to establish Ward–Takahashi identities corresponding to Yangian symmetries. To this end, we discuss the Yangian algebra relations and discover a novel set of bi-local gauge symmetries for planar gauge theories. We fix the gauge, introduce local and bi-local BRST symmetries and propose Slavnov–Taylor identities corresponding to the various bi-local symmetries. We then verify the validity of these identities for several correlation functions at tree and loop level. Finally, we comment on the possibility of quantum anomalies for Yangian symmetry.