In this talk I review the connections between Feynman integrals and multiple polylogarithms. After an introductory section on loop integrals I discuss the Mellin-Barnes transformation and shuffle algebras. In a subsequent section multiple polylogarithms are introduced. Finally, I discuss how certain Feynman integrals evaluate to multiple polylogarithms.
Differential equations are a powerful tool to tackle Feynman integrals. In this talk we discuss recent progress, where the method of differential equations has been applied to Feynman integrals which are not expressible in terms of multiple polylogarithms.
In this talk, we discuss recent progress in the application of generalizations of polylogarithms in the symbolic computation of multi-loop integrals. We briefly review the Maple program MPL which supports a certain approach for the computation of Feynman integrals in terms of multiple polylogarithms. Furthermore we discuss elliptic generalizations of polylogarithms which have shown to be useful in the computation of the massive two-loop sunrise integral.
In this paper we study the calculation of multiloop Feynman integrals that cannot be expressed in terms of multiple polylogarithms. We show in detail how certain types of two- and three-point functions at two loops, which appear in the calculation of higher order corrections in QED, QCD and in the electroweak theory (EW), can naturally be expressed in terms of a recently introduced elliptic generalisation of multiple polylogarithms by direct integration over their Feynman parameter representation. Moreover, we show that in all examples that we considered a basis of pure Feynman integrals can b…
In this paper we exploit factorisation properties of Picard-Fuchs operators to decouple differential equations for multi-scale Feynman integrals. The algorithm reduces the differential equations to blocks of the size of the order of the irreducible factors of the Picard-Fuchs operator. As a side product, our method can be used to easily convert the differential equations for Feynman integrals which evaluate to multiple polylogarithms to $\varepsilon$-form.
We review an approach for the computation of Feynman integrals by use of multiple polylogarithms, with an emphasis on the related criterion of linear reducibility of the graph. We show that the set of graphs which satisfies the linear reducibility with respect to both Symanzik polynomials is closed under taking minors. As a step towards a classification of Feynman integrals, we discuss the concept of critical minors and exhibit an example at three loops with four on-shell legs.
We review certain classes of iterated integrals that appear in the computation of Feynman integrals that involve elliptic functions. These functions generalise the well-known class of multiple polylogarithms to elliptic curves and are closely related to the elliptic multiple polylogarithms (eMPLs) studied in the mathematics literature. When evaluated at certain special values of the arguments, eMPLs reduce to another class of special functions, defined as iterated integrals of Eisenstein series. As a novel application of our formalism, we illustrate how a class of special functions introduced …
In these lectures I discuss Feynman graphs and the associated Feynman integrals. Of particular interest are the classes functions, which appear in the evaluation of Feynman integrals. The most prominent class of functions is given by multiple polylogarithms. The algebraic properties of multiple polylogarithms are reviewed in the second part of these lectures. The final part of these lectures is devoted to Feynman integrals, which cannot be expressed in terms of multiple polylogarithms. Methods from algebraic geometry provide tools to tackle these integrals.
We define linearly reducible elliptic Feynman integrals, and we show that they can be algorithmically solved up to arbitrary order of the dimensional regulator in terms of a 1-dimensional integral over a polylogarithmic integrand, which we call the inner polylogarithmic part (IPP). The solution is obtained by direct integration of the Feynman parametric representation. When the IPP depends on one elliptic curve (and no other algebraic functions), this class of Feynman integrals can be algorithmically solved in terms of elliptic multiple polylogarithms (eMPLs) by using integration by parts iden…
The $\varepsilon$-form of a system of differential equations for Feynman integrals has led to tremendeous progress in our abilities to compute Feynman integrals, as long as they fall into the class of multiple polylogarithms. It is therefore of current interest, if these methods extend beyond the case of multiple polylogarithms. In this talk I discuss Feynman integrals, which are associated to elliptic curves and their differential equations. I show for non-trivial examples how the system of differential equations can be brought into an $\varepsilon$-form. Single-scale and multi-scale cases ar…
In these lectures I will give an introduction to Feynman integrals. In the first part of the course I review the basics of the perturbative expansion in quantum field theories. In the second part of the course I will discuss more advanced topics: Mathematical aspects of loop integrals related to periods, shuffle algebras and multiple polylogarithms are covered as well as practical algorithms for evaluating Feynman integrals.
In this talk we discuss the solution for the sunrise integral around two and four space-time dimensions in terms of a generalised elliptic version of the multiple polylogarithms. In two space-time dimensions we obtain a sum of three elliptic dilogarithms. The arguments of the elliptic dilogarithms have a nice geometric interpretation. In four space-time dimensions the sunrise integral can be expressed with the $ε^0$- and $ε^1$-solution around two dimensions, mass derivatives thereof and simpler terms.
Feynman diagrams constitute one of the essential ingredients for making precision predictions for collider experiments. Yet, while the simplest Feynman diagrams can be evaluated in terms of multiple polylogarithms -- whose properties as special functions are well understood -- more complex diagrams often involve integrals over complicated algebraic manifolds. Such diagrams already contribute at NNLO to the self-energy of the electron, $t \bar{t}$ production, $γγ$ production, and Higgs decay, and appear at two loops in the planar limit of maximally supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory. This makes t…
We review the Laporta algorithm for the reduction of scalar integrals to the master integrals and the differential equations technique for their evaluation. We discuss the use of the basis of harmonic polylogarithms for the analytical expression of the results and some generalization of this basis to wider sets of transcendental functions.
In a recent paper we have presented results for a set of massive scalar one-loop master integrals needed in the NNLO parton model description of the hadroproduction of heavy flavors. The one--loop integrals were evaluated in $n=4-2\ep$ dimension and the results were presented in terms of a Laurent series expansion up to ${\cal O}(\ep^2)$. We found that some of the $\ep^2$ coefficients contain a new class of functions which we termed the $L$ functions. The $L$ functions are defined in terms of one--dimensional integrals involving products of logarithm and dilogarithm functions. In this paper we…
We argue that in many physical calculations where the "eliptic" sectors are involved, one can express the results via iterated integrals with almost all weights being rational. Our method is based on the existence of $ε$-regular basis, which is akin to the $ε$-finite basis defined in Ref. [hep-ph/0601165]. As a demonstration of our technique, we calculate the photon contribution to the total cross section of the production of two $Q\bar Q$ pairs in the electron-positron collisions.
We review a method for the algebraic treatment of a family of functions which contains the multiple polylogarithms, with applications to the symbolic calculation of Feynman integrals.
We investigate the behaviour of elliptic Feynman integrals under modular transformations. This has a practical motivation: Through a suitable modular transformation we can achieve that the nome squared is a small quantity, leading to fast numerical evaluations. Contrary to the case of multiple polylogarithms, where it is sufficient to consider just variable transformations for the numerical evaluations of multiple polylogarithms, it is more natural in the elliptic case to consider a combination of a variable transformation (i.e. a modular transformation) together with a redefinition of the mas…
One- and two-dimensional harmonic polylogarithms, HPLs and GPLs, appear in calculations of multi-loop integrals. We discuss them in the context of analytical solutions for two-loop master integrals in the case of massive Bhabha scattering in QED. For the GPLs we discuss analytical representations, conformal transformations, and also their transformations corresponding to relations between master integrals in the s- and t-channel.
Some problems related to construction of the epsilon-expansion of dimensionally regulated Feynman integrals are discussed. For certain classes of diagrams, an arbitrary term of the epsilon-expansion can be expressed in terms of log-sine integrals related to the polylogarithms. It is shown how the analytic continuation of these functions can be constructed in terms of the generalized Nielsen polylogarithms.
We consider a two-loop sunrise integral with two different internal masses at pseudo-threshold kinematics and we solve it in terms of elliptic polylogarithms to all orders of the dimensional regulator.
We present short review of two methods for obtaining functional equations for Feynman integrals. Application of these methods for finding functional equations for one- and two- loop integrals is described in detail. It is shown that with the aid of functional equations Feynman integrals in general kinematics can be expressed in terms of simpler integrals. Similarities between functional equations for Feynman integrals and addition theorem for Abel integrals are shortly discussed.
We summarize recent computations with a class of elliptic generalizations of polylogarithms, arising from the massive sunrise integral. For the case of arbitrary masses we obtain results in two and four space-time dimensions. The iterated integral structure of our functions allows us to furthermore compute the equal mass case to arbitrary order.
New methods for obtaining functional equations for Feynman integrals are presented. Application of these methods for finding functional equations for various one- and two- loop integrals described in detail. It is shown that with the aid of functional equations Feynman integrals in general kinematics can be expressed in terms of simpler integrals.
The method of expansion of integrals in external parameters is suggested. It is quite universal and works for Feynman integrals both in Euclidean and Minkowski regions of momenta.
We show that at one-loop order, negative-dimensional, Mellin-Barnes' (MB) and Feynman parametrization (FP) approaches to Feynman loop integrals calculations are equivalent. Starting with a generating functional, for two and then for $N$-point scalar integrals we show how to reobtain MB results, using negative-dimensional and FP techniques. The $N-$point result is valid for different masses, arbitrary exponents of propagators and dimension.
Some recent results on evaluating Feynman integrals are reviewed. The status of the method based on Mellin-Barnes representation as a powerful tool to evaluate individual Feynman integrals is characterized. A new method based on Groebner bases to solve integration by parts relations in an automatic way is described.
We derive an analytic representation of the ten-particle, two-loop double-box integral as an elliptic integral over weight-three polylogarithms. To obtain this form, we first derive a four-fold, rational (Feynman-)parametric representation for the integral, expressed directly in terms of dual-conformally invariant cross-ratios; from this, the desired form is easily obtained. The essential features of this integral are illustrated by means of a simplified toy model, and we attach the relevant expressions for both integrals in ancillary files. We propose a normalization for such integrals that r…
We develop a general framework for the evaluation of $d$-dimensional cut Feynman integrals based on the Baikov-Lee representation of purely-virtual Feynman integrals. We implement the generalized Cutkosky cutting rule using Cauchy's residue theorem and identify a set of constraints which determine the integration domain. The method applies equally well to Feynman integrals with a unitarity cut in a single kinematic channel and to maximally-cut Feynman integrals. Our cut Baikov-Lee representation reproduces the expected relation between cuts and discontinuities in a given kinematic channel and …
In this paper the C++ version of FIRE is presented - a powerful program performing Feynman integral reduction to master integrals. All previous versions used only Wolfram Mathematica, the current version mostly uses Wolfram Mathematica as a front-end. However, the most complicated part, the reduction itself can now be done by C++, which significantly improves the performance and allows one to reduce Feynman integrals in previously impossible situations.
We introduce a class of iterated integrals that generalize multiple polylogarithms to elliptic curves. These elliptic multiple polylogarithms are closely related to similar functions defined in pure math- ematics and string theory. We then focus on the equal-mass and non-equal-mass sunrise integrals, and we develop a formalism that enables us to compute these Feynman integrals in terms of our iterated integrals on elliptic curves. The key idea is to use integration-by-parts identities to identify a set of integral kernels, whose precise form is determined by the branch points of the integral i…
We present analytic results of the two-loop master integrals for hadronic $tW$ production that contain two massive propagators. For the planar integral family, we succeed in constructing the canonical basis, so the results are written in terms of multiple polylogarithms. The master integrals in the non-planar integral families have been calculated by Taylor series expansion around $m_W^2=0$. Even with this simplification, there are multiple square roots involved in the differential equations, which can not be rationalized simultaneously. We find that a proper linear combination of the integral…
We review recent developments in the study of multiple polylogarithms, including the Hopf algebra of the multiple polylogarithms and the symbol map, as well as the construction of single valued multiple polylogarithms and discuss an algorithm for finding fibration bases. We document how these algorithms are implemented in the Mathematica package PolyLogTools and show how it can be used to study the coproduct structure of polylogarithmic expressions and how to compute iterated parametric integrals over polylogarithmic expressions that show up in Feynman integal computations at low loop orders.
Feynman integrals are easily solved if their system of differential equations is in $\varepsilon$-form. In this letter we show by the explicit example of the kite integral family that an $\varepsilon$-form can even be achieved, if the Feynman integrals do not evaluate to multiple polylogarithms. The $\varepsilon$-form is obtained by a (non-algebraic) change of basis for the master integrals.
We discuss a progress in calculation of Feynman integrals which has been done with help of the differential equation method and demonstrate the results for a class of two-point two-loop diagrams.
A practical criterion for the irreducibility (with respect to integration by part identities) of a particular Feynman integral to a given set of integrals is presented. The irreducibility is shown to be related to the existence of stable (with zero gradient) points of a specially constructed polynomial.
Phase space cuts are implemented by inserting Heaviside theta functions in the integrands of momentum-space Feynman integrals. By directly parametrizing theta functions and constructing integration-by-parts (IBP) identities in the parametric representation, we provide a systematic method to reduce integrals with cuts. Since the IBP method is available, it becomes possible to evaluate integrals with cuts by constructing and solving differential equations.
We suggest a mathematical definition of the notion of master integrals and present a brief review of algorithmic methods to solve reduction problems for Feynman integrals based on integration by parts relations. In particular, we discuss a recently suggested reduction algorithm which uses Groebner bases. New results obtained with its help for a family of three-loop Feynman integrals are outlined.
We introduce a class of iterated integrals, defined through a set of linearly independent integration kernels on elliptic curves. As a direct generalisation of multiple polylogarithms, we construct our set of integration kernels ensuring that they have at most simple poles, implying that the iterated integrals have at most logarithmic singularities. We study the properties of our iterated integrals and their relationship to the multiple elliptic polylogarithms from the mathematics literature. On the one hand, we find that our iterated integrals span essentially the same space of functions as t…
The recently developed algorithm FIRE performs the reduction of Feynman integrals to master integrals. It is based on a number of strategies, such as applying the Laporta algorithm, the s-bases algorithm, region-bases and integrating explicitly over loop momenta when possible. Currently it is being used in complicated three-loop calculations.
Integrand Analysis, Leading Singularities and Canonical Bases beyond Polylogarithms
Technical University of Munich(慕尼黑工业大学);University of Oxford(牛津大学);Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute)(马克斯·普朗克引力物理研究所(阿尔伯特·爱因斯坦研究所))
I discuss algorithms for the evaluation of Feynman integrals. These algorithms are based on Hopf algebras and evaluate the Feynman integral to (multiple) polylogarithms.
New types of relationships between Feynman integrals are presented. It is shown that Feynman integrals satisfy functional equations connecting integrals with different values of scalar invariants and masses. A method is proposed for obtaining such relations. The derivation of functional equations for one-loop propagator- and vertex - type integrals is given. It is shown that a propagator - type integral can be written as a sum of two integrals with modified scalar invariants and one propagator massless. The vertex - type integral can be written as a sum over vertex integrals with all but one p…
We use the method of differential equations to analytically evaluate all planar three-loop Feynman integrals relevant for form factor calculations involving massive particles. Our results for ninety master integrals at general $q^2$ are expressed in terms of multiple polylogarithms, and results for fiftyone master integrals at the threshold $q^2=4m^2$ are expressed in terms of multiple polylogarithms of argument one, with indices equal to zero or to a sixth root of unity.
The reduction of Feynman integrals to master integrals is an algebraic problem that requires algorithmic approaches at the modern level of calculations. Straightforward applications of the classical Buchberger algorithm to construct Groebner bases seem to be inefficient. An essential modification designed especially for this problem has been worked out. It has been already applied in two- and three-loop calculations. We are also suggesting to combine our method with the Laporta's algorithm.
A Mathematica implementation of the program LERG-I is presented that performs the reduction of tensor integrals, encountered in one-loop Feynman diagram calculations, to scalar integrals. The program was originally coded in REDUCE and in that incarnation was applied to a number of problems of physical interest.
We study one and two-loop triangle integrals with massless propagators and all external legs off shell. We show that there is a kinematic region where the results can be expressed in terms of a basis of single-valued polylogarithms in one complex variable. The relevant space of single-valued functions can be determined a priori and the results take strikingly a simple and compact form when written in terms of this basis. We study the properties of the basis functions and illustrate how one can easily analytically continue our results to all kinematic regions where the external masses have the …
A survey is given on mathematical structures which emerge in multi-loop Feynman diagrams. These are multiply nested sums, and, associated to them by an inverse Mellin transform, specific iterated integrals. Both classes lead to sets of special numbers. Starting with harmonic sums and polylogarithms we discuss recent extensions of these quantities as cyclotomic, generalized (cyclotomic), and binomially weighted sums, associated iterated integrals and special constants and their relations.
In this talk we discuss mathematical structures associated to Feynman graphs. Feynman graphs are the backbone of calculations in perturbative quantum field theory. The mathematical structures -- apart from being of interest in their own right -- allow to derive algorithms for the computation of these graphs. Topics covered are the relations of Feynman integrals to periods, shuffle algebras and multiple polylogarithms.
We analytically evaluate the master integrals for the second type of planar contributions to the massive two-loop Bhabha scattering in QED using differential equa- tions with canonical bases. We obtain results in terms of multiple polylogarithms for all the master integrals but one, for which we derive a compact result in terms of elliptic mul- tiple polylogarithms. As a byproduct, we also provide a compact analytic result in terms of elliptic multiple polylogarithms for an integral belonging to the first family of planar Bhabha integrals, whose computation in terms of polylogarithms was addre…
We calculate 3-loop master integrals for heavy quark correlators and the 3-loop QCD corrections to the $ρ$-parameter. They obey non-factorizing differential equations of second order with more than three singularities, which cannot be factorized in Mellin-$N$ space either. The solution of the homogeneous equations is possible in terms of convergent close integer power series as $_2F_1$ Gauß hypergeometric functions at rational argument. In some cases, integrals of this type can be mapped to complete elliptic integrals at rational argument. This class of functions appears to be the next one ari…
We consider the analytic calculation of a two-loop non-planar three-point function which contributes to the two-loop amplitudes for $t \bar{t}$ production and $γγ$ production in gluon fusion through a massive top-quark loop. All subtopology integrals can be written in terms of multiple polylogarithms over an irrational alphabet and we employ a new method for the integration of the differential equations which does not rely on the rationalization of the latter. The top topology integrals, instead, in spite of the absence of a massive three-particle cut, cannot be evaluated in terms of multiple …
We consider Feynman integrals with algebraic leading singularities and total differentials in $ε\,\mathrm{d}\ln$ form. We show for the first time that it is possible to evaluate integrals with singularities involving unrationalizable roots in terms of conventional multiple polylogarithms, by either parametric integration or matching the symbol. As our main application, we evaluate the two-loop master integrals relevant to the $αα_s$ corrections to Drell-Yan lepton pair production at hadron colliders. We optimize our functional basis to allow for fast and stable numerical evaluations in the phy…
Elliptic multiple polylogarithms occur in Feynman integrals and in particular in scattering amplitudes. They can be characterized by their symbol, a tensor product in the so-called symbol letters. In contrast to the non-elliptic case, the elliptic letters themselves satisfy highly non-trivial identities, which we discuss in this paper. Moreover, we introduce the symbol prime, an analog of the symbol for elliptic symbol letters, which makes these identities manifest. We demonstrate its use in two concrete examples at two-loop order: the unequal-mass sunrise integral in two dimensions and the te…
We propose a general coaction for families of integrals appearing in the evaluation of Feynman diagrams, such as multiple polylogarithms and generalized hypergeometric functions. We further conjecture a link between this coaction and graphical operations on Feynman diagrams. At one-loop order, there is a basis of integrals for which this correspondence is fully explicit. We discuss features and present examples of the diagrammatic coaction on two-loop integrals. We also present the coaction for the functions ${}_{p+1}F_p$ and Appell $F_1$.