Stefan Weinzierl

Nested sums, expansion of transcendental functions, and multiscale multiloop integrals

Expansion of higher transcendental functions in a small parameter are needed in many areas of science. For certain classes of functions this can be achieved by algebraic means. These algebraic tools are based on nested sums and can be formulated as algorithms suitable for an implementation on a computer. Examples such as expansions of generalized hypergeometric functions or Appell functions are discussed. As a further application, we give the general solution of a two-loop integral, the so-called C-topology, in terms of multiple nested sums. In addition, we discuss some important properties of nested sums, in particular we show that they satisfy a Hopf algebra.

Numerical evaluation of multiple polylogarithms

Multiple polylogarithms appear in analytic calculations of higher order corrections in quantum field theory. In this article we study the numerical evaluation of multiple polylogarithms. We provide algorithms, which allow the evaluation for arbitrary complex arguments and without any restriction on the weight. We have implemented these algorithms with arbitrary precision arithmetic in C++ within the GiNaC framework.

NLO QCD corrections to t anti-t + jet production at hadron colliders

We report on the calculation of the next-to-leading order QCD corrections to the production of top--anti-top quark pairs in association with a hard jet at the Tevatron and at the LHC. We present results for the t tbar + jet cross section and the forward--backward charge asymmetry. The corrections stabilize the leading-order prediction for the cross section. The charge asymmetry receives large corrections.

Hadronic top-quark pair production in association with a hard jet at next-to-leading order QCD: phenomenological studies for the Tevatron and the LHC

We report on the calculation of the next-to-leading order QCD corrections to the production of top–antitop-quark pairs in association with a hard jet at the Tevatron and at the LHC. Results for integrated and differential cross sections are presented. We find a significant reduction of the scale dependence. In most cases the corrections are below 20% indicating that the perturbative expansion is well under control. Moreover, the forward–backward charge asymmetry of the top quark, which is analyzed at the Tevatron, is studied at next-to-leading order. We find large corrections, suggesting that the definition of the observable has to be refined.

NNLO corrections to two-jet observables in electron-positron annihilation

I report on a numerical program, which can be used to calculate any infra-red safe two-jet observable in electron-positron annihilation to next-to-next-to-leading order in the strong coupling constant alpha_s. The calculation is based on the subtraction method. The result for the two-jet cross section is compared to the literature.

Resolution of singularities for multi-loop integrals

We report on a program for the numerical evaluation of divergent multi-loop integrals. The program is based on iterated sector decomposition. We improve the original algorithm of Binoth and Heinrich such that the program is guaranteed to terminate. The program can be used to compute numerically the Laurent expansion of divergent multi-loop integrals regulated by dimensional regularisation. The symbolic and the numerical steps of the algorithm are combined into one program.

FEYNMAN GRAPH POLYNOMIALS

The integrand of any multiloop integral is characterized after Feynman parametrization by two polynomials. In this review we summarize the properties of these polynomials. Topics covered in this paper include among others: spanning trees and spanning forests, the all-minors matrix-tree theorem, recursion relations due to contraction and deletion of edges, Dodgsons identity and matroids.

Symbolic expansion of transcendental functions

Higher transcendental function occur frequently in the calculation of Feynman integrals in quantum field theory. Their expansion in a small parameter is a non-trivial task. We report on a computer program which allows the systematic expansion of certain classes of functions. The algorithms are based on the Hopf algebra of nested sums. The program is written in C++ and uses the GiNaC library.

Expansion around half-integer values, binomial sums, and inverse binomial sums

I consider the expansion of transcendental functions in a small parameter around rational numbers. This includes in particular the expansion around half-integer values. I present algorithms which are suitable for an implementation within a symbolic computer algebra system. The method is an extension of the technique of nested sums. The algorithms allow in addition the evaluation of binomial sums, inverse binomial sums and generalizations thereof.

The two-loop sunrise graph in two space-time dimensions with arbitrary masses in terms of elliptic dilogarithms

We present the two-loop sunrise integral with arbitrary non-zero masses in two space-time dimensions in terms of elliptic dilogarithms. We find that the structure of the result is as simple and elegant as in the equal mass case, only the arguments of the elliptic dilogarithms are modified. These arguments have a nice geometric interpretation.