Dual superconformal invariance, momentum twistors and Grassmannians (original) (raw)

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Abstract

Dual superconformal invariance has recently emerged as a hidden symmetry of planar scattering amplitudes in Script N = 4 super Yang-Mills theory. This symmetry can be made manifest by expressing amplitudes in terms of `momentum twistors', as opposed to the usual twistors that make the ordinary superconformal properties manifest. The relation between momentum twistors and on-shell momenta is algebraic, so the translation procedure does not rely on any choice of space-time signature. We show that tree amplitudes and box coefficients are succinctly generated by integration of holomorphic δ-functions in momentum twistors over cycles in a Grassmannian. This is analogous to, although distinct from, recent results obtained by Arkani-Hamed et al. in ordinary twistor space. We also make contact with Hodges' polyhedral representation of NMHV amplitudes in momentum twistor space.

Publication:

Journal of High Energy Physics

Pub Date:

November 2009

DOI:

10.1088/1126-6708/2009/11/045

10.48550/arXiv.0909.0250

arXiv:

arXiv:0909.0250

Bibcode:

2009JHEP...11..045M

Keywords:

E-Print:

1+36 pages, 7 figures. Minor typos corrected