Zvi Bern

One-loop n-point gauge theory amplitudes, unitarity and collinear limits

Abstract We present a technique which utilizes unitarity and collinear limits to construct ansatze for one-loop amplitudes in gauge theory. As an example, we obtain the one-loop contribution to amplitudes for n -gluon scattering in N = 4 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory with the helicity configuration of the Parke-Taylor tree amplitudes. We prove that our N = 4 ansatz is correct using general properties of the relevant one-loop n -point integrals. We also give the “splitting amplitudes” which govern the collinear behavior of one-loop helicity amplitudes in gauge theories.

Iteration of planar amplitudes in maximally supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory at three loops and beyond

We compute the leading-color (planar) three-loop four-point amplitude of N = 4 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory in 4 - 2{epsilon} dimensions, as a Laurent expansion about {epsilon} = 0 including the finite terms. The amplitude was constructed previously via the unitarity method, in terms of two Feynman loop integrals, one of which has been evaluated already. Here we use the Mellin-Barnes integration technique to evaluate the Laurent expansion of the second integral. Strikingly, the amplitude is expressible, through the finite terms, in terms of the corresponding one- and two-loop amplitudes, which provides strong evidence for a previous conjecture that higher-loop planar N = 4 amplitudes have an iterative structure. The infrared singularities of the amplitude agree with the predictions of Sterman and Tejeda-Yeomans based on resummation. Based on the four-point result and the exponentiation of infrared singularities, we give an exponentiated ansatz for the maximally helicity-violating n-point amplitudes to all loop orders. The 1/{epsilon}{sup 2} pole in the four-point amplitude determines the soft, or cusp, anomalous dimension at three loops in N = 4 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory. The result confirms a prediction by Kotikov, Lipatov, Onishchenko and Velizhanin, which utilizes the leading-twist anomalous dimensions in QCD computed by Moch, Vermaseren and Vogt. Following similar logic, we are able to predict a term in the three-loop quark and gluon form factors in QCD.

Fusing gauge theory tree amplitudes into loop amplitudes

Abstract We identify a large class of one-loop amplitudes for massless particles that can be constructed via unitarity from tree amplitudes, without any ambiguities. One-loop amplitudes for massless supersymmetric gauge theories fall into this class; in addition, many non-supersymmetric amplitudes can be rearranged to take advantage of the result. As applications, we construct the one-loop amplitudes for n -gluon scattering in N = 1 supersymmetric theories with the helicity configuration of the Parke-Taylor tree amplitudes, and for six-gluon scattering in N = 4 super-Yang-Mills theory for all helicity configurations.

New Relations for Gauge-Theory Amplitudes

We present an identity satisfied by the kinematic factors of diagrams describing the tree amplitudes of massless gauge theories. This identity is a kinematic analog of the Jacobi identity for color factors. Using this we find new relations between color-ordered partial amplitudes. We discuss applications to multiloop calculations via the unitarity method. In particular, we illustrate the relations between different contributions to a two-loop four-point QCD amplitude. We also use this identity to reorganize gravity tree amplitudes diagram by diagram, offering new insight into the structure of the Kawai-Lewellen-Tye (KLT) relations between gauge and gravity tree amplitudes. This insight leads to similar but novel relations. We expect this to be helpful in higher-loop studies of the ultraviolet properties of gravity theories.

The Four-Loop Planar Amplitude and Cusp Anomalous Dimension in Maximally Supersymmetric Yang-Mills Theory

We present an expression for the leading-color (planar) four-loop four-point amplitude of N = 4 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory in 4-2{epsilon} dimensions, in terms of eight separate integrals. The expression is based on consistency of unitarity cuts and infrared divergences. We expand the integrals around {epsilon} = 0, and obtain analytic expressions for the poles from 1/{epsilon}{sup 8} through 1/{epsilon}{sup 4}. We give numerical results for the coefficients of the 1/{epsilon}{sup 3} and 1/e{sup 2} poles. These results all match the known exponentiated structure of the infrared divergences, at four separate kinematic points. The value of the 1/{epsilon}{sup 2} coefficient allows us to test a conjecture of Eden and Staudacher for the four-loop cusp (soft) anomalous dimension. We find that the conjecture is incorrect, although our numerical results suggest that a simple modification of the expression, flipping the sign of the term containing {zeta}{sub 3}{sup 2}, may yield the correct answer. Our numerical value can be used, in a scheme proposed by Kotikov, Lipatov and Velizhanin, to estimate the two constants in the strong-coupling expansion of the cusp anomalous dimension that are known from string theory. The estimate works to 2.6% and 5% accuracy, providing non-trivial evidence in support of the AdS/CFT correspondence. We also use the known constants in the strong-coupling expansion as additional input to provide approximations to the cusp anomalous dimension which should be accurate to under one percent for all values of the coupling. When the evaluations of the integrals are completed through the finite terms, it will be possible to test the iterative, exponentiated structure of the finite terms in the four-loop four-point amplitude, which was uncovered earlier at two and three loops.

The computation of loop amplitudes in gauge theories

Abstract We present a detailed derivation of a new and efficient technique based on the technology of four-dimensional heterotic strings, for computing one-loop amplitudes in gauge theories, along with expressions for the one-loop dimensionally regularized helicity amplitudes for the process with four external gluons. We also give a set of computational rules pre-supposing ignorance of string theory.

Dimensionally-regulated pentagon integrals☆

Abstract We present methods for evaluating the Feynman parameter integrals associated with the pentagon diagram in 4-2∈ dimensions, along with explicit results for the integrals with all masses vanishing or with one non-vanishing external mass. The scalar pentagon integral can be expressed as a linear combination of box integrals, up to O(∈) corrections, a result which is the dimensionally-regulated version of a D = 4 result of Melrose, and of van Neerven and Vermaseren. We obtain and solve differential equations for various dimensionally-regulated box integrals with massless internal lines, which appear in one-loop n -point calculations in QCD. We give a procedure for constructing the tensor pentagon integrals needed in gauge theory, again through O(∈ 0 ).

Perturbative Quantum Gravity as a Double Copy of Gauge Theory

In a previous paper we observed that (classical) tree-level gauge-theory amplitudes can be rearranged to display a duality between color and kinematics. Once this is imposed, gravity amplitudes are obtained using two copies of gauge-theory diagram numerators. Here we conjecture that this duality persists to all quantum loop orders and can thus be used to obtain multiloop gravity amplitudes easily from gauge-theory ones. As a nontrivial test, we show that the three-loop four-point amplitude of N=4 super-Yang-Mills theory can be arranged into a form satisfying the duality, and by taking double copies of the diagram numerators we obtain the corresponding amplitude of N=8 supergravity. We also remark on a nonsupersymmetric two-loop test based on pure Yang-Mills theory resulting in gravity coupled to an antisymmetric tensor and dilaton.

On the relationship between Yang-Mills theory and gravity and its implication for ultraviolet divergences

String theory implies that field theories containing gravity are in a certain sense ‘products’ of gauge theories. We make this product structure explicit up to two loops for the relatively simple case of N = 8 supergravity four-point amplitudes, demonstrating that they are ‘squares’ of N = 4 super-Yang-Mills amplitudes. This is accomplished by obtaining an explicit expression for the Ddimensional two-loop contribution to the four-particle S-matrix for N = 8 supergravity, which we compare to the corresponding N = 4 Yang-Mills result. From these expressions we also obtain the two-loop ultraviolet divergences in dimensions D = 7 through D = 11. The analysis relies on the unitarity cuts of the two theories, many of which can be recycled from a one-loop computation. The two-particle cuts, which may be iterated to all loop orders, suggest that squaring relations between the two theories exist at any loop order. The loop-momentum power-counting implied by our two-particle cut analysis indicates that in four dimensions the first four-point divergence in N = 8 supergravity should appear at five loops, contrary to the earlier expectation, based on superspace arguments, of a three-loop counterterm.

One loop amplitudes for e+ e- to four partons

Abstract We present the first explicit formulae for the complete set of one-loop helicity amplitudes necessary for computing next-to-leading order corrections for e + e − annihilation into four jets, for W, Z or Drell-Yan production in association with two jets at hadron colliders, and for three-jet production in deeply inelastic scattering experiments. We include a simpler form of the previously published amplitudes for e + e − to four quarks. We obtain the amplitudes using their analytic properties to constrain their form. Systematically eliminating spurious poles from the amplitudes leads to relatively compact results.