Yu-tin Huang - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Yu-tin Huang
Physical review letters, Jan 10, 2015
Soft limits of a massless S matrix are known to reflect the symmetries of the theory. In particul... more Soft limits of a massless S matrix are known to reflect the symmetries of the theory. In particular, for theories with Goldstone bosons, the double-soft limit of scalars reveals the coset structure of the vacuum manifold. In this Letter, we propose that such universal double-soft behavior is not only true for scalars, but also for spin-1/2 particles in four dimensions and fermions in three dimensions. We first consider the Akulov-Volkov theory and demonstrate that the double-soft limit of Goldstinos yields the supersymmetry algebra. More surprisingly, we also find that amplitudes in 4≤N≤8 supergravity theories in four dimensions as well as N=16 supergravity in three dimensions behave universally in the double-soft-fermion limit, analogous to the scalar ones. The validity of the new soft theorems at loop level is also studied. The results for supergravity are beyond what is implied by supersymmetry Ward identities and may impose nontrivial constraints on the possible counterterms for...
Physical Review D, 2015
We study soft theorems in a broader context, addressing their fate at loop level and their univer... more We study soft theorems in a broader context, addressing their fate at loop level and their universality in effective field theories and string theory. We argue that for gauge theories in the planar limit, loop-level soft gluon theorems can be made manifest already at the integrand level. In particular, we show that the planar integrand for N = 4 SYM satisfies the tree-level soft theorem to all orders in perturbation theory and provide strong evidence for integrands in N < 4 SYM. We consider soft theorems for non-supersymmetric Yang-Mills theories and gravity, where no such representation of the integrand is available, and show that loop corrections to the integrated soft theorems are intimately tied to the presence of quantum symmetry anomalies. We then address the question of universality of the soft theorems for various theories. In effective field theories with F 3 and R 3 interactions, the soft theorems are not modified. However for gravity theories with R 2 φ interactions, the next-next-leading order soft graviton theorem, which is beyond what is implied by the extended BMS symmetry, requires modifications at tree level for non-supersymmetric theories, and at loop level for N ≤ 4 supergravity due to anomalies. Finally, for superstring amplitudes at finite α , via explicit calculation for lower-point examples as well as world-sheet OPE analysis for arbitrary multiplicity, we show that the superstring theory amplitudes satisfy the same soft theorem as its field-theory counterpart. This is no longer true for bosonic closed strings due to the presence of R 2 φ interactions.
Journal of High Energy Physics, 2014
A remarkable connection between perturbative scattering amplitudes of fourdimensional planar SYM,... more A remarkable connection between perturbative scattering amplitudes of fourdimensional planar SYM, and the stratification of the positive grassmannian, was revealed in the seminal work of Arkani-Hamed et. al. Similar extension for three-dimensional ABJM theory was proposed. Here we establish a direct connection between planar scattering amplitudes of ABJM theory, and singularities there of, to the stratification of the positive orthogonal grassmannian. In particular, scattering processes are constructed through on-shell diagrams, which are simply iterative gluing of the fundamental four-point amplitude. Each diagram is then equivalent to the merging of fundamental OG 2 orthogonal grassmannian to form a larger OG k , where 2k is the number of external particles. The invariant information that is encoded in each diagram is precisely this stratification. This information can be easily read off via permutation paths of the on-shell diagram, which also can be used to derive a canonical representation of OG k that manifests the vanishing of consecutive minors as the singularity of all on-shell diagrams. Quite remarkably, for the BCFW recursion representation of the tree-level amplitudes, the on-shell diagram manifests the presence of all physical factorization poles, as well as the cancellation of the spurious poles. After analytically continuing the orthogonal grassmannian to split signature, we reveal that each on-shell diagram in fact resides in the positive cell of the orthogonal grassmannian, where all minors are positive. In this language, the amplitudes of ABJM theory is simply an integral of a product of d log forms, over the positive orthogonal grassmannian. arXiv:1309.3252v1 [hep-th]
Journal of High Energy Physics, 2014
In this paper, we study loop corrections to the recently proposed new soft theorems of Cachazo-St... more In this paper, we study loop corrections to the recently proposed new soft theorems of Cachazo-Strominger, for both gravity and gauge theory amplitudes. We first review the proof of its tree-level validity based on BCFW recursion relations, which also establishes an infinite series of universals soft functions for MHV amplitudes, and a generalization to supersymmetric cases. For loop corrections, we focus on infrared finite, rational amplitudes at one loop, and apply recursion relations with boundary or double-pole contributions. For all-plus amplitudes, we prove that the subleading soft-theorems are exact to all multiplicities for both gauge and gravity amplitudes. For single-minus amplitudes, while the subleading soft-theorems are again exact for the minus-helicity soft leg, for plushelicity loop corrections are required. Using recursion relations, we identify the source of such mismatch as stemming from the special contribution containing double poles, and obtain the all-multiplicity one-loop corrections to the subleading soft behavior in Yang-Mills theory. We also comment on the derivation of soft theorems using BCFW recursion in arbitrary dimensions.
Physical Review D, 2015
ABSTRACT We provide evidence in favor of the conjectured duality between color and kinematics for... more ABSTRACT We provide evidence in favor of the conjectured duality between color and kinematics for the case of nonsupersymmetric pure Yang-Mills amplitudes by constructing a form of the one-loop four-point amplitude of this theory that makes the duality manifest. Our construction is valid in any dimension. We also describe a duality-satisfying representation for the two-loop four-point amplitude with identical four-dimensional external helicities. We use these results to obtain corresponding gravity integrands for a theory containing a graviton, dilaton, and antisymmetric tensor, simply by replacing color factors with specified diagram numerators. Using this, we give explicit forms of ultraviolet divergences at one loop in four, six, and eight dimensions, and at two loops in four dimensions.
Journal of High Energy Physics, 2009
Here we formulate two field redefinitions for N = 4 Super Yang-Mills in light cone superspace tha... more Here we formulate two field redefinitions for N = 4 Super Yang-Mills in light cone superspace that generates only MHV vertices in the new Lagrangian. After careful consideration of the S-matrix equivalence theorem, we see that only the canonical transformation gives the MHV Lagrangian that would correspond to the CSW expansion. Being in superspace, it is easier to analyse the
Modern on-shell methods allow us to construct both the classical and quantum S-matrix for a large... more Modern on-shell methods allow us to construct both the classical and quantum S-matrix for a large class of theories, without utilizing knowledge of the interacting Lagrangian. It was recently shown that the same applies for chiral gauge theories, where the constraints from anomaly cancelation can be recast into the tension between unitarity and locality, without any reference to gauge symmetry. In this paper, we give a more detailed exploration, for chiral QED and QCD. We study the rational terms that are mandated by locality, and show that the factorization poles of such terms reveal a new particle in the spectrum, the Green-Schwarz two-from. We further extend the analysis to six-dimensional gravity coupled to chiral matter, including self-dual two-forms for which covariant actions generically do not exist. Despite this, the on-shell methods define the correct quantum S-matrix by demonstrating that locality of the one-loop amplitude requires combination of chiral matter that is con...
In the modern on-shell approach, the perturbative S-matrix is constructed iteratively using on-sh... more In the modern on-shell approach, the perturbative S-matrix is constructed iteratively using on-shell building blocks with manifest unitarity. As only gauge invariant quantities enter in the intermediate steps, the notion of gauge anomaly is absent. In this letter, we rephrase the anomaly cancellation conditions in a purely on-shell language. We demonstrate that while the unitarity-methods automatically lead to a unitary S-matrix, the rational terms that are required to enforce locality, invariably give rise to inconsistent factorization channels in chiral theories. In four-dimensions, the absence of such inconsistencies implies the vanishing of the cubic Casimir of the gauge group. In six-dimensions, if the symmetric trace of four generators does not vanish, the rational term develops a factorization channel revealing a new particle in the spectrum: the two-form of the Green-Schwarz mechanism. Thus in the purely on-shell construction, the notion of gauge-anomaly is replaced by the d...
Soft limits of massless S-matrix are known to reflect symmetries of the theory. In particular for... more Soft limits of massless S-matrix are known to reflect symmetries of the theory. In particular for theories with Goldstone bosons, the double-soft limit of scalars reveals the coset structure of the vacuum manifold. In this letter, we propose that such universal double-soft behavior is not only true for scalars, but also for spin-1/2 particles in four dimensions and fermions in three dimensions. We first consider Akulov-Volkov theory, and demonstrate the double soft-limit of goldstinos yields the supersymmetry algebra. More surprisingly we also find amplitudes in 3<N<=8 supergravity theories in four dimensions as well as N=16 supergravity in three dimensions behave universally in the double-soft-fermion limit, analogue to the scalar ones. The validity of the new soft theorems at loop level is also studied. The results for supergravity are beyond what is implied by SUSY Ward identities, and may impose non-trivial constraints on the possible counter terms for supergravity theories.
Journal of High Energy Physics
It is known that for N=8 supergravity, the double-soft-scalar limit of a n-point amplitude is giv... more It is known that for N=8 supergravity, the double-soft-scalar limit of a n-point amplitude is given by a sum of local SU(8) rotations acting on a (n-2)-point amplitude. For N<8 supergravity theories, complication arises due to the presence of a U(1) in the U(N) isotropy group, which introduces a soft-graviton singularity that obscures the action of the duality symmetry. In this paper, we introduce an anti-symmetrised extraction procedure that exposes the full duality group. We illustrate this procedure for tree-level amplitudes in 4<=N<8 supergravity in four dimensions, as well as N=16 supergravity in three dimensions. In three dimensions, as all bosonic degrees of freedom transform under the E8 duality group, supersymmetry ensures that the amplitude vanish in single-soft limits of all particle species, in contrast to its higher dimensional siblings. Using recursive formulas and generalized unitarity cuts in three dimensions, we demonstrate the action of the duality group f...
The purpose of this review is to bridge the gap between a standard course in quantum field theory... more The purpose of this review is to bridge the gap between a standard course in quantum field theory and recent fascinating developments in the studies of on-shell scattering amplitudes. We build up the subject from basic quantum field theory, starting with Feynman rules for simple processes in Yukawa theory and QED. The material covered includes spinor helicity formalism, on-shell recursion relations, superamplitudes and their symmetries, twistors and momentum twistors, loops and integrands, Grassmannians, polytopes, and amplitudes in perturbative supergravity as well as 3d Chern-Simons-matter theories. Multiple examples and exercises are included.
We consider constraints on higher dimensional operators for supersymmetric effective field theori... more We consider constraints on higher dimensional operators for supersymmetric effective field theories. In four dimensions with maximal supersymmetry and SU(4) R-symmetry, we demonstrate that the coefficients of abelian operators F^n with MHV helicity configurations must satisfy a recursion relation, and are completely determined by that of F^4. As the F^4 coefficient is known to be one-loop exact, this allows us to derive exact coefficients for all such operators. We also argue that the results are consistent with the SL(2,Z) duality symmetry. Breaking SU(4) to Sp(4), in anticipation for the Coulomb branch effective action, we again find an infinite class of operators whose coefficient that are determined exactly. We also consider three-dimensional N=8 as well as six-dimensional N=(2,0),(1,0) and (1,1) theories. In all cases, we demonstrate that the coefficient of dimension-six operator must be proportional to the square of that of dimension-four.
Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical, 2014
In this paper we study the combinatorics associated with the positive orthogonal Grassmannian OG ... more In this paper we study the combinatorics associated with the positive orthogonal Grassmannian OG k and its connection to ABJM scattering amplitudes. We present a canonical embedding of OG k into the Grassmannian Gr(k, 2k), from which we deduce the canonical volume form that is invariant under equivalence moves. Remarkably the canonical forms of all reducible graphs can be converted into irreducible ones with products of d log forms. Unlike N = 4 super Yang-Mills, here the Jacobian plays a crucial role to ensure the d log form of the reduced representation. Furthermore in the positive region, we identify the functional map that arises from the triangle equivalence move as a 3-string scattering S-matrix which satisfies the tetrahedron equations by Zamolodchikov, implying (2+1)-dimensional integrability. We study the solution to the BCFW recursion relation for loop amplitudes, and demonstrate the presence of all physical singularities as well as the absence of all spurious ones. The on-shell diagram solution to the loop recursion relation exhibits manifest two-site cyclic symmetry and reveals that, to all loop, four and six-point amplitudes only have logarithmic singularities.
Journal of High Energy Physics, 2011
We present an on-shell formalism for superamplitudes of pure N < 4 super Yang-Mills theory. Two s... more We present an on-shell formalism for superamplitudes of pure N < 4 super Yang-Mills theory. Two superfields, Φ and Φ † , are required to describe the two CPT conjugate supermultiplets. Simple truncation prescriptions allow us to derive explicit tree-level MHV and NMHV superamplitudes with N -fold SUSY. Any N = 0, 1, 2 tree superamplitudes have large-z falloffs under super-BCFW shifts, except under [Φ, Φ † -shifts. We show that this 'bad' shift is responsible for the bubble contributions to 1-loop amplitudes in N = 0, 1, 2 SYM. We evaluate the MHV bubble coefficients in a manifestly supersymmetric form and demonstrate for the case of four external particles that the sum of bubble coefficients is equal to minus the tree superamplitude times the 1-loop beta-function coefficient. The connection to the beta-function is expected since only bubble integrals capture UV divergences; we discuss briefly how the minus sign arises from UV and IR divergences in dimensional regularization.
Journal of High Energy Physics, 2014
Scattering amplitudes in 4d N = 4 super Yang-Mills theory (SYM) can be described by Grassmannian ... more Scattering amplitudes in 4d N = 4 super Yang-Mills theory (SYM) can be described by Grassmannian contour integrals whose form depends on whether the external data is encoded in momentum space, twistor space, or momentum twistor space. After a pedagogical review, we present a new, streamlined proof of the equivalence of the three integral formulations. A similar strategy allows us to derive a new Grassmannian integral for 3d N = 6 ABJM theory amplitudes in momentum twistor space: it is a contour integral in an orthogonal Grassmannian with the novel property that the internal metric depends on the external data. The result can be viewed as a central step towards developing an amplituhedron formulation for ABJM amplitudes. Various properties of Grassmannian integrals are examined, including boundary properties, pole structure, and a homological interpretation of the global residue theorems for N = 4 SYM.
Journal of High Energy Physics, 2009
Here we formulate two field redefinitions for N=4 Super Yang-Mills in light cone superspace that ... more Here we formulate two field redefinitions for N=4 Super Yang-Mills in light cone superspace that generates only MHV vertices in the new Lagrangian. After careful consideration of the S-matrix equivalence theorem, we see that only the canonical transformation gives the MHV Lagrangian that would correspond to the CSW expansion. Being in superspace, it is easier to analyse the equivalence theorem at loop level. We calculate the on shell amplitude for 4pt (ΛĀΛA) MHV in the new lagrangian and show that it reproduces the previously known form. We also briefly discuss the relationship with the off-shell continuation prescription of CSW.
Physical review letters, Jan 20, 2014
In the modern on-shell approach, the perturbative S matrix is constructed iteratively using on-sh... more In the modern on-shell approach, the perturbative S matrix is constructed iteratively using on-shell building blocks with manifest unitarity. As only gauge invariant quantities enter in the intermediate steps, the notion of a gauge anomaly is absent. In this Letter, we rephrase the anomaly cancellation conditions in a purely on-shell language. We demonstrate that while the unitarity methods automatically lead to a unitary S matrix, the rational terms that are required to enforce locality, invariably give rise to inconsistent factorization channels in chiral theories. In four dimensions, the absence of such inconsistencies implies the vanishing of the symmetric trace of three generators. In six dimensions, if the symmetric trace of four generators does not vanish, the rational term develops a factorization channel revealing a new particle in the spectrum: the 2-form of the Green-Schwarz mechanism. Thus, in the purely on-shell construction, the notion of a gauge anomaly is replaced by...
Journal of High Energy Physics, 2008
ABSTRACT By coupling the N=2 spinning particle to background vector fields, we construct Yang-Mil... more ABSTRACT By coupling the N=2 spinning particle to background vector fields, we construct Yang-Mills amplitudes for trees and one loop. The vertex operators are derived through coupling the BRST charge; therefore background gauge invariance is manifest, and the Yang-Mills ghosts are automatically included in loop calculations by worldline ghosts. Inspired by string calculations, we extend the usual worldline approach to incorporate more "generalized" 1D manifolds. This new approach should be useful for constructing higher-point and higher-loop amplitudes.
Physical Review D, 2011
We combine the unitarity method with the six-dimensional helicity formalism of Cheung and O'Conne... more We combine the unitarity method with the six-dimensional helicity formalism of Cheung and O'Connell to construct loop-level scattering amplitudes. As a first example, we construct dimensionally regularized QCD one-loop four-point amplitudes. As a nontrivial multiloop example, we confirm that the recently constructed four-loop four-point amplitude of N = 4 super-Yang-Mills theory, including nonplanar contributions, is valid for dimensions D ≤ 6. We comment on the connection of our approach to the recently discussed Higgs infrared regulator and on dual conformal properties in six dimensions.
Journal of High Energy Physics, 2009
ABSTRACT We present simple first-class-constraint actions and BRST operators for the 4D N=4 super... more ABSTRACT We present simple first-class-constraint actions and BRST operators for the 4D N=4 superparticle. Each generation of ghosts has 2 super-indices, like the coordinates. The constraints that define projective superspace close in a super Yang-Mills background due to the presence of a (non-central) U(1) generator in the algebra.
Physical review letters, Jan 10, 2015
Soft limits of a massless S matrix are known to reflect the symmetries of the theory. In particul... more Soft limits of a massless S matrix are known to reflect the symmetries of the theory. In particular, for theories with Goldstone bosons, the double-soft limit of scalars reveals the coset structure of the vacuum manifold. In this Letter, we propose that such universal double-soft behavior is not only true for scalars, but also for spin-1/2 particles in four dimensions and fermions in three dimensions. We first consider the Akulov-Volkov theory and demonstrate that the double-soft limit of Goldstinos yields the supersymmetry algebra. More surprisingly, we also find that amplitudes in 4≤N≤8 supergravity theories in four dimensions as well as N=16 supergravity in three dimensions behave universally in the double-soft-fermion limit, analogous to the scalar ones. The validity of the new soft theorems at loop level is also studied. The results for supergravity are beyond what is implied by supersymmetry Ward identities and may impose nontrivial constraints on the possible counterterms for...
Physical Review D, 2015
We study soft theorems in a broader context, addressing their fate at loop level and their univer... more We study soft theorems in a broader context, addressing their fate at loop level and their universality in effective field theories and string theory. We argue that for gauge theories in the planar limit, loop-level soft gluon theorems can be made manifest already at the integrand level. In particular, we show that the planar integrand for N = 4 SYM satisfies the tree-level soft theorem to all orders in perturbation theory and provide strong evidence for integrands in N < 4 SYM. We consider soft theorems for non-supersymmetric Yang-Mills theories and gravity, where no such representation of the integrand is available, and show that loop corrections to the integrated soft theorems are intimately tied to the presence of quantum symmetry anomalies. We then address the question of universality of the soft theorems for various theories. In effective field theories with F 3 and R 3 interactions, the soft theorems are not modified. However for gravity theories with R 2 φ interactions, the next-next-leading order soft graviton theorem, which is beyond what is implied by the extended BMS symmetry, requires modifications at tree level for non-supersymmetric theories, and at loop level for N ≤ 4 supergravity due to anomalies. Finally, for superstring amplitudes at finite α , via explicit calculation for lower-point examples as well as world-sheet OPE analysis for arbitrary multiplicity, we show that the superstring theory amplitudes satisfy the same soft theorem as its field-theory counterpart. This is no longer true for bosonic closed strings due to the presence of R 2 φ interactions.
Journal of High Energy Physics, 2014
A remarkable connection between perturbative scattering amplitudes of fourdimensional planar SYM,... more A remarkable connection between perturbative scattering amplitudes of fourdimensional planar SYM, and the stratification of the positive grassmannian, was revealed in the seminal work of Arkani-Hamed et. al. Similar extension for three-dimensional ABJM theory was proposed. Here we establish a direct connection between planar scattering amplitudes of ABJM theory, and singularities there of, to the stratification of the positive orthogonal grassmannian. In particular, scattering processes are constructed through on-shell diagrams, which are simply iterative gluing of the fundamental four-point amplitude. Each diagram is then equivalent to the merging of fundamental OG 2 orthogonal grassmannian to form a larger OG k , where 2k is the number of external particles. The invariant information that is encoded in each diagram is precisely this stratification. This information can be easily read off via permutation paths of the on-shell diagram, which also can be used to derive a canonical representation of OG k that manifests the vanishing of consecutive minors as the singularity of all on-shell diagrams. Quite remarkably, for the BCFW recursion representation of the tree-level amplitudes, the on-shell diagram manifests the presence of all physical factorization poles, as well as the cancellation of the spurious poles. After analytically continuing the orthogonal grassmannian to split signature, we reveal that each on-shell diagram in fact resides in the positive cell of the orthogonal grassmannian, where all minors are positive. In this language, the amplitudes of ABJM theory is simply an integral of a product of d log forms, over the positive orthogonal grassmannian. arXiv:1309.3252v1 [hep-th]
Journal of High Energy Physics, 2014
In this paper, we study loop corrections to the recently proposed new soft theorems of Cachazo-St... more In this paper, we study loop corrections to the recently proposed new soft theorems of Cachazo-Strominger, for both gravity and gauge theory amplitudes. We first review the proof of its tree-level validity based on BCFW recursion relations, which also establishes an infinite series of universals soft functions for MHV amplitudes, and a generalization to supersymmetric cases. For loop corrections, we focus on infrared finite, rational amplitudes at one loop, and apply recursion relations with boundary or double-pole contributions. For all-plus amplitudes, we prove that the subleading soft-theorems are exact to all multiplicities for both gauge and gravity amplitudes. For single-minus amplitudes, while the subleading soft-theorems are again exact for the minus-helicity soft leg, for plushelicity loop corrections are required. Using recursion relations, we identify the source of such mismatch as stemming from the special contribution containing double poles, and obtain the all-multiplicity one-loop corrections to the subleading soft behavior in Yang-Mills theory. We also comment on the derivation of soft theorems using BCFW recursion in arbitrary dimensions.
Physical Review D, 2015
ABSTRACT We provide evidence in favor of the conjectured duality between color and kinematics for... more ABSTRACT We provide evidence in favor of the conjectured duality between color and kinematics for the case of nonsupersymmetric pure Yang-Mills amplitudes by constructing a form of the one-loop four-point amplitude of this theory that makes the duality manifest. Our construction is valid in any dimension. We also describe a duality-satisfying representation for the two-loop four-point amplitude with identical four-dimensional external helicities. We use these results to obtain corresponding gravity integrands for a theory containing a graviton, dilaton, and antisymmetric tensor, simply by replacing color factors with specified diagram numerators. Using this, we give explicit forms of ultraviolet divergences at one loop in four, six, and eight dimensions, and at two loops in four dimensions.
Journal of High Energy Physics, 2009
Here we formulate two field redefinitions for N = 4 Super Yang-Mills in light cone superspace tha... more Here we formulate two field redefinitions for N = 4 Super Yang-Mills in light cone superspace that generates only MHV vertices in the new Lagrangian. After careful consideration of the S-matrix equivalence theorem, we see that only the canonical transformation gives the MHV Lagrangian that would correspond to the CSW expansion. Being in superspace, it is easier to analyse the
Modern on-shell methods allow us to construct both the classical and quantum S-matrix for a large... more Modern on-shell methods allow us to construct both the classical and quantum S-matrix for a large class of theories, without utilizing knowledge of the interacting Lagrangian. It was recently shown that the same applies for chiral gauge theories, where the constraints from anomaly cancelation can be recast into the tension between unitarity and locality, without any reference to gauge symmetry. In this paper, we give a more detailed exploration, for chiral QED and QCD. We study the rational terms that are mandated by locality, and show that the factorization poles of such terms reveal a new particle in the spectrum, the Green-Schwarz two-from. We further extend the analysis to six-dimensional gravity coupled to chiral matter, including self-dual two-forms for which covariant actions generically do not exist. Despite this, the on-shell methods define the correct quantum S-matrix by demonstrating that locality of the one-loop amplitude requires combination of chiral matter that is con...
In the modern on-shell approach, the perturbative S-matrix is constructed iteratively using on-sh... more In the modern on-shell approach, the perturbative S-matrix is constructed iteratively using on-shell building blocks with manifest unitarity. As only gauge invariant quantities enter in the intermediate steps, the notion of gauge anomaly is absent. In this letter, we rephrase the anomaly cancellation conditions in a purely on-shell language. We demonstrate that while the unitarity-methods automatically lead to a unitary S-matrix, the rational terms that are required to enforce locality, invariably give rise to inconsistent factorization channels in chiral theories. In four-dimensions, the absence of such inconsistencies implies the vanishing of the cubic Casimir of the gauge group. In six-dimensions, if the symmetric trace of four generators does not vanish, the rational term develops a factorization channel revealing a new particle in the spectrum: the two-form of the Green-Schwarz mechanism. Thus in the purely on-shell construction, the notion of gauge-anomaly is replaced by the d...
Soft limits of massless S-matrix are known to reflect symmetries of the theory. In particular for... more Soft limits of massless S-matrix are known to reflect symmetries of the theory. In particular for theories with Goldstone bosons, the double-soft limit of scalars reveals the coset structure of the vacuum manifold. In this letter, we propose that such universal double-soft behavior is not only true for scalars, but also for spin-1/2 particles in four dimensions and fermions in three dimensions. We first consider Akulov-Volkov theory, and demonstrate the double soft-limit of goldstinos yields the supersymmetry algebra. More surprisingly we also find amplitudes in 3<N<=8 supergravity theories in four dimensions as well as N=16 supergravity in three dimensions behave universally in the double-soft-fermion limit, analogue to the scalar ones. The validity of the new soft theorems at loop level is also studied. The results for supergravity are beyond what is implied by SUSY Ward identities, and may impose non-trivial constraints on the possible counter terms for supergravity theories.
Journal of High Energy Physics
It is known that for N=8 supergravity, the double-soft-scalar limit of a n-point amplitude is giv... more It is known that for N=8 supergravity, the double-soft-scalar limit of a n-point amplitude is given by a sum of local SU(8) rotations acting on a (n-2)-point amplitude. For N<8 supergravity theories, complication arises due to the presence of a U(1) in the U(N) isotropy group, which introduces a soft-graviton singularity that obscures the action of the duality symmetry. In this paper, we introduce an anti-symmetrised extraction procedure that exposes the full duality group. We illustrate this procedure for tree-level amplitudes in 4<=N<8 supergravity in four dimensions, as well as N=16 supergravity in three dimensions. In three dimensions, as all bosonic degrees of freedom transform under the E8 duality group, supersymmetry ensures that the amplitude vanish in single-soft limits of all particle species, in contrast to its higher dimensional siblings. Using recursive formulas and generalized unitarity cuts in three dimensions, we demonstrate the action of the duality group f...
The purpose of this review is to bridge the gap between a standard course in quantum field theory... more The purpose of this review is to bridge the gap between a standard course in quantum field theory and recent fascinating developments in the studies of on-shell scattering amplitudes. We build up the subject from basic quantum field theory, starting with Feynman rules for simple processes in Yukawa theory and QED. The material covered includes spinor helicity formalism, on-shell recursion relations, superamplitudes and their symmetries, twistors and momentum twistors, loops and integrands, Grassmannians, polytopes, and amplitudes in perturbative supergravity as well as 3d Chern-Simons-matter theories. Multiple examples and exercises are included.
We consider constraints on higher dimensional operators for supersymmetric effective field theori... more We consider constraints on higher dimensional operators for supersymmetric effective field theories. In four dimensions with maximal supersymmetry and SU(4) R-symmetry, we demonstrate that the coefficients of abelian operators F^n with MHV helicity configurations must satisfy a recursion relation, and are completely determined by that of F^4. As the F^4 coefficient is known to be one-loop exact, this allows us to derive exact coefficients for all such operators. We also argue that the results are consistent with the SL(2,Z) duality symmetry. Breaking SU(4) to Sp(4), in anticipation for the Coulomb branch effective action, we again find an infinite class of operators whose coefficient that are determined exactly. We also consider three-dimensional N=8 as well as six-dimensional N=(2,0),(1,0) and (1,1) theories. In all cases, we demonstrate that the coefficient of dimension-six operator must be proportional to the square of that of dimension-four.
Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical, 2014
In this paper we study the combinatorics associated with the positive orthogonal Grassmannian OG ... more In this paper we study the combinatorics associated with the positive orthogonal Grassmannian OG k and its connection to ABJM scattering amplitudes. We present a canonical embedding of OG k into the Grassmannian Gr(k, 2k), from which we deduce the canonical volume form that is invariant under equivalence moves. Remarkably the canonical forms of all reducible graphs can be converted into irreducible ones with products of d log forms. Unlike N = 4 super Yang-Mills, here the Jacobian plays a crucial role to ensure the d log form of the reduced representation. Furthermore in the positive region, we identify the functional map that arises from the triangle equivalence move as a 3-string scattering S-matrix which satisfies the tetrahedron equations by Zamolodchikov, implying (2+1)-dimensional integrability. We study the solution to the BCFW recursion relation for loop amplitudes, and demonstrate the presence of all physical singularities as well as the absence of all spurious ones. The on-shell diagram solution to the loop recursion relation exhibits manifest two-site cyclic symmetry and reveals that, to all loop, four and six-point amplitudes only have logarithmic singularities.
Journal of High Energy Physics, 2011
We present an on-shell formalism for superamplitudes of pure N < 4 super Yang-Mills theory. Two s... more We present an on-shell formalism for superamplitudes of pure N < 4 super Yang-Mills theory. Two superfields, Φ and Φ † , are required to describe the two CPT conjugate supermultiplets. Simple truncation prescriptions allow us to derive explicit tree-level MHV and NMHV superamplitudes with N -fold SUSY. Any N = 0, 1, 2 tree superamplitudes have large-z falloffs under super-BCFW shifts, except under [Φ, Φ † -shifts. We show that this 'bad' shift is responsible for the bubble contributions to 1-loop amplitudes in N = 0, 1, 2 SYM. We evaluate the MHV bubble coefficients in a manifestly supersymmetric form and demonstrate for the case of four external particles that the sum of bubble coefficients is equal to minus the tree superamplitude times the 1-loop beta-function coefficient. The connection to the beta-function is expected since only bubble integrals capture UV divergences; we discuss briefly how the minus sign arises from UV and IR divergences in dimensional regularization.
Journal of High Energy Physics, 2014
Scattering amplitudes in 4d N = 4 super Yang-Mills theory (SYM) can be described by Grassmannian ... more Scattering amplitudes in 4d N = 4 super Yang-Mills theory (SYM) can be described by Grassmannian contour integrals whose form depends on whether the external data is encoded in momentum space, twistor space, or momentum twistor space. After a pedagogical review, we present a new, streamlined proof of the equivalence of the three integral formulations. A similar strategy allows us to derive a new Grassmannian integral for 3d N = 6 ABJM theory amplitudes in momentum twistor space: it is a contour integral in an orthogonal Grassmannian with the novel property that the internal metric depends on the external data. The result can be viewed as a central step towards developing an amplituhedron formulation for ABJM amplitudes. Various properties of Grassmannian integrals are examined, including boundary properties, pole structure, and a homological interpretation of the global residue theorems for N = 4 SYM.
Journal of High Energy Physics, 2009
Here we formulate two field redefinitions for N=4 Super Yang-Mills in light cone superspace that ... more Here we formulate two field redefinitions for N=4 Super Yang-Mills in light cone superspace that generates only MHV vertices in the new Lagrangian. After careful consideration of the S-matrix equivalence theorem, we see that only the canonical transformation gives the MHV Lagrangian that would correspond to the CSW expansion. Being in superspace, it is easier to analyse the equivalence theorem at loop level. We calculate the on shell amplitude for 4pt (ΛĀΛA) MHV in the new lagrangian and show that it reproduces the previously known form. We also briefly discuss the relationship with the off-shell continuation prescription of CSW.
Physical review letters, Jan 20, 2014
In the modern on-shell approach, the perturbative S matrix is constructed iteratively using on-sh... more In the modern on-shell approach, the perturbative S matrix is constructed iteratively using on-shell building blocks with manifest unitarity. As only gauge invariant quantities enter in the intermediate steps, the notion of a gauge anomaly is absent. In this Letter, we rephrase the anomaly cancellation conditions in a purely on-shell language. We demonstrate that while the unitarity methods automatically lead to a unitary S matrix, the rational terms that are required to enforce locality, invariably give rise to inconsistent factorization channels in chiral theories. In four dimensions, the absence of such inconsistencies implies the vanishing of the symmetric trace of three generators. In six dimensions, if the symmetric trace of four generators does not vanish, the rational term develops a factorization channel revealing a new particle in the spectrum: the 2-form of the Green-Schwarz mechanism. Thus, in the purely on-shell construction, the notion of a gauge anomaly is replaced by...
Journal of High Energy Physics, 2008
ABSTRACT By coupling the N=2 spinning particle to background vector fields, we construct Yang-Mil... more ABSTRACT By coupling the N=2 spinning particle to background vector fields, we construct Yang-Mills amplitudes for trees and one loop. The vertex operators are derived through coupling the BRST charge; therefore background gauge invariance is manifest, and the Yang-Mills ghosts are automatically included in loop calculations by worldline ghosts. Inspired by string calculations, we extend the usual worldline approach to incorporate more "generalized" 1D manifolds. This new approach should be useful for constructing higher-point and higher-loop amplitudes.
Physical Review D, 2011
We combine the unitarity method with the six-dimensional helicity formalism of Cheung and O'Conne... more We combine the unitarity method with the six-dimensional helicity formalism of Cheung and O'Connell to construct loop-level scattering amplitudes. As a first example, we construct dimensionally regularized QCD one-loop four-point amplitudes. As a nontrivial multiloop example, we confirm that the recently constructed four-loop four-point amplitude of N = 4 super-Yang-Mills theory, including nonplanar contributions, is valid for dimensions D ≤ 6. We comment on the connection of our approach to the recently discussed Higgs infrared regulator and on dual conformal properties in six dimensions.
Journal of High Energy Physics, 2009
ABSTRACT We present simple first-class-constraint actions and BRST operators for the 4D N=4 super... more ABSTRACT We present simple first-class-constraint actions and BRST operators for the 4D N=4 superparticle. Each generation of ghosts has 2 super-indices, like the coordinates. The constraints that define projective superspace close in a super Yang-Mills background due to the presence of a (non-central) U(1) generator in the algebra.