We study MHV amplitude for the 2 -> 5 scattering in the multi-Regge kinematics. The Mandelstam cut correction to the BDS amplitude is calculated in the leading logarithmic approximation (LLA) and the corresponding remainder function is given to any loop order in a closed integral form. We show that the LLA remainder function at two loops for 2 -> 5 amplitude can be written as a sum of two 2 -> 4 remainder functions due to recursive properties of the leading order impact factors. We also make some generalizations for the MHV amplitudes with more external particles. The results of the present study are in agreement with all leg two loop symbol derived by Caron-Huot as shown in a parallel paper of one of the authors with collaborators.
We consider the planar MHV amplitude in N=4 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory for 2 -> 4 particle scattering at two and three loops in the Regge kinematics. We perform an analytic continuation of two-loop result for the remainder function found by Goncharov, Spradlin, Vergu and Volovich to the physical region, where the remainder function does not vanish in the Regge limit. After the continuation both the leading and the subleading in the logarithm of the energy terms are extracted and analyzed. Using this result we calculate the next-to-leading corrections to the impact factors required in the…
We investigate the collinear and Regge behavior of the 2 -> 4 MHV amplitude in N = 4super Yang-Mills theory in the BFKL approach. The expression for the remainder function in the collinear kinematics proposed by Alday, Gaiotto, Maldacena, Sever and Vieira is analytically continued to the Mandelstam region. The result of the continuation in the Regge kinematics shows an agreement with the BFKL approach up to to five-loop level. We present the Regge theory interpretation of the obtained results and discuss some issues related to a possible non-multiplicative renormalization of the remainder func…
We perform an examination of discontinuities of multiple production amplitudes, which are required for further development of the BFKL approach. It turns out that the discontinuities of 2 $\to$ 2 + n amplitudes obtained in the BFKL approach contradict to the BDS ansatz for amplitudes with maximal helicity violation in N = 4 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory with large number of colours starting with n = 2. Explicit expressions for the discontinuities of the 2 $\to$ 3 and 2 $\to$ 4 amplitudes in the invariant mass of pairs of produced gluons are obtained in the planar N=4 SYM in the next-to-lead…
Recent progress on scattering amplitudes has benefited from the mathematical technology of symbols for efficiently handling the types of polylogarithm functions which frequently appear in multi-loop computations. The symbol for all two-loop MHV amplitudes in planar SYM theory is known, but explicit analytic formulas for the amplitudes are hard to come by except in special limits where things simplify, such as multi-Regge kinematics. By applying symbology we obtain a formula for the leading behavior of the imaginary part (the Mandelstam cut contribution) of this amplitude in multi-Regge kinemat…
A simple formula is given for the n-field tree-level MHV gravitational amplitude, based on soft limit factors. It expresses the full S_n symmetry naturally, as a determinant of elements of a symmetric (n \times n) matrix.
We factorize the infrared divergences of the non-forward BFKL Green function for a general t-channel projection of the color quantum numbers and study the properties of the infrared finite remainder in the case of color octet exchange. The octet Green function is compared with the singlet case for different values of the momentum transfer. The octet Green function plays an important role in the calculation of the finite remainder of the two-loop six-point MHV planar amplitude in N = 4 SYM as it was demonstrated by Bartels, Lipatov and one of us in http://arXiv.org/abs/arXiv:0802.2065 and http:…
We present an explicit formula for the n-point MHV one-loop amplitude in a N=4 supergravity theory. This formula is derived from the soft and collinear factorisations of the amplitude.
We extend the Berkovits-Maldacena prescription for MHV amplitudes of the open superstring to the closed superstring, showing that in the α'=0 limit it reduces to the result of supergravity found recently by Hodges. We also verify that this prescription calculates the correct superstring tree level MHV amplitude for 4 gravitons including α' corrections.
We compute one-loop threshold corrections to R^4 terms in N= 5,6 supergravity vacua of Type II superstrings. We then discuss non-perturbative corrections generated by asymmetric D-brane instantons. Finally we derive generating functions for MHV amplitudes at tree level in N = 5, 6 supergravities.
We apply the Landau equations, whose solutions parameterize the locus of possible branch points, to the one- and two-loop Feynman integrals relevant to MHV amplitudes in planar $\mathcal{N}=4$ super-Yang-Mills theory. We then identify which of the Landau singularities appear in the symbols of the amplitudes, and which do not. We observe that all of the symbol entries in the two-loop MHV amplitudes are already present as Landau singularities of one-loop pentagon integrals.
We calculate corrections to the BDS formula for the six-particle planar MHV amplitude for the gluon transition 3->3 in the multi-Regge kinematics for the physical region, in which the Regge pole ansatz is not valid. The remainder function at two loops is obtained by an analytic continuation of the expression derived by Goncharov, Spradlin, Vergu and Volovich to the kinematic region described by the Mandelstam singularity exchange in the crossing channel. It contains both the imaginary and real contributions being in agreement with the BFKL predictions. The real part of the three loop expressio…
In this paper, we study the relation between the Cachazo-He-Yuan (CHY) formula and the maximal-helicity-violating (MHV) amplitudes of Yang-Mills and gravity in four dimensions. We prove that only one special rational solution of the scattering equations found by Weinzierl support the MHV amplitudes. Namely, localized at this solution, the integrated CHY formula reproduces the Parke-Taylor formula for Yang-Mills amplitudes as well as the Hodges formula for gravitational amplitudes. This is achieved by developing techniques, in a manifestly Möbius covariant formalism, to explicitly compute relev…
In arXiv:2008.04330 it was shown that supertranslation and $\overline{SL(2,\mathbb C)}$ current algebra symmetries, corresponding to leading and subleading soft graviton theorems, are enough to determine the tree level MHV graviton scattering amplitudes. In this note we clarify the role of subsubleading soft graviton theorem in this context.
Celestial and momentum space amplitudes for massless particles are related to each other by a change of basis provided by the Mellin transform. Therefore properties of celestial amplitudes have counterparts in momentum space amplitudes and vice versa. In this paper, we study the celestial avatar of dual superconformal symmetry of $\mathcal{N}=4$ Yang-Mills theory. We also analyze various differential equations known to be satisfied by celestial $n$-point tree-level MHV amplitudes and identify their momentum space origins.
We apply a bootstrap procedure to two-loop MHV amplitudes in planar N=4 super-Yang-Mills theory. We argue that the mathematically most complicated part (the $Λ^2 B_2$ coproduct component) of the n-particle amplitude is uniquely determined by a simple cluster algebra property together with a few physical constraints (dihedral symmetry, analytic structure, supersymmetry, and well-defined collinear limits). We present a concise, closed-form expression which manifests these properties for all n.
The MHV or CSW expansion of tree-level Yang-Mills amplitudes provides an elegant and simple way of obtaining analytic formulas for S-matrix elements. Inspired by the BCFW technique, a systematic approach to obtain the MHV expansion was introduced by Risager, using a particular complex deformation. Although it works for Yang-Mills amplitudes, Risager's technique fails to provide an MHV expansion already for Next-to-MHV gravity amplitudes with more than eleven particles, as shown by Bianchi, Elvang and Freedman in 2008. This fact implies that in this sector there is a contribution at infinity st…
We present the general flux tube integrand for MHV and non-MHV amplitudes, in planar N = 4 SYM theory, up to a group theoretical rational factor. We find that the MHV and non-MHV cases only differ by simple form factors which we derive. This information allows us to run the operator product expansion program for all sorts of non-MHV amplitudes and to test the recently proposed map with the so called charged pentagons transitions. Perfect agreement is found, on a large sample of non-MHV amplitudes, with the perturbative data available in the literature.
We give a closed-form, prescriptive representation of all-multiplicity two-loop MHV amplitude integrands in fully-color-dressed (non-planar) maximally supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory.
We consider generalization of the Cachazo-Svrcek-Witten (CSW) rules to one-loop amplitudes of N=4 super Yang-Mills theory in a recently developed holonomy formalism in twistor space. We first reconsider off-shell continuation of the Lorentz-invariant Nair measure for the incorporation of loop integrals. We then formulate an S-matrix functional for general amplitudes such that it implements the CSW rules at quantum level. For one-loop MHV amplitudes, the S-matrix functional correctly reproduces the analytic expressions obtained in the Brandhuber-Spence-Travaglini (BST) method. Motivated by this…
The Cachazo-Strominger subleading soft graviton theorem for a positive helicity soft graviton is equivalent to the Ward identities for $\overline{SL(2,\mathbb C)}$ currents. This naturally gives rise to a $\overline{SL(2,\mathbb C)}$ current algebra living on the celestial sphere. The generators of the $\overline{SL(2,\mathbb C)}$ current algebra and the supertranslations, coming from a positive helicity leading soft graviton, form a closed algebra. We find that the OPE of two graviton primaries in the Celestial CFT, extracted from MHV amplitudes, is completely determined in terms of this alge…
Recently, loop integrands for certain Yang-Mills scattering amplitudes and correlation functions have been shown to be systematically expressible in dlog form, raising the possibility that these loop integrals can be performed directly without Feynman parameters. We do so here to give a new description of the planar 1-loop MHV amplitude in N = 4 super Yang-Mills theory. We explicitly incorporate the standard Feynman i epsilon prescription into the integrands. We find that the generic MHV diagram contributing to the 1-loop MHV amplitude, known as Kermit, is dual conformal invariant up to the ch…
The $\bar{Q}$ equations, rooted in the dual superconformal anomalies, are a powerful tool for computing amplitudes in planar $\mathcal{N}=4$ supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory. By using the $\bar{Q}$ equations, we compute the symbol of the first MHV amplitude with algebraic letters -- the three-loop 8-point amplitude (or the octagon remainder function) -- in this theory. The symbol alphabet for this amplitude consists of 204 independent rational letters and shares the same 18 algebraic letters with the two-loop 8-point NMHV amplitude.
We show that the Mellin transform of an $n$-point tree level MHV gluon scattering amplitude, also known as the celestial amplitude in pure Yang-Mills theory, satisfies a system of $(n-2)$ linear first order partial differential equations corresponding to $(n-2)$ positive helicity gluons. Although these equations closely resemble Knizhnik-Zamolodchikov equations for $SU(N)$ current algebra there is also an additional "correction" term coming from the subleading soft gluon current algebra. These equations can be used to compute the leading term in the gluon-gluon OPE on the celestial sphere. Sim…
We describe a general algorithm which builds on several pieces of data available in the literature to construct explicit analytic formulas for two-loop MHV amplitudes in N=4 super-Yang-Mills theory. The non-classical part of an amplitude is built from $A_3$ cluster polylogarithm functions; classical polylogarithms with (negative) cluster X-coordinate arguments are added to complete the symbol of the amplitude; beyond-the-symbol terms proportional to $π^2$ are determined by comparison with the differential of the amplitude; and the overall additive constant is fixed by the collinear limit. We p…
In this talk, we review our recent work on direct evaluation of tree-level MHV amplitudes by Cachazo-He-Yuan (CHY) formula. We also investigate the correspondence between solutions to scattering equations and amplitudes in four dimensions along this line. By substituting the MHV solution of scattering equations into the integrated CHY formula, we explicitly calculate the tree-level MHV amplitudes for four dimensional Yang-Mills theory and gravity. These results naturally reproduce the Parke-Taylor and Hodges formulas. In addition, we derive a new compact formula for tree-level single-trace MHV…
I present a conjecture that all two-loop MHV amplitudes in planar $\mathcal{N} = 4$ super-Yang-Mills theory possess an antipodal symmetry when evaluated on parity-even kinematics. The symmetry acts as a change of basis on the symbol letters, followed by the antipode operation associated with the Hopf algebra structure of multiple polylogarithms. At the symbol level, I provide the symmetry map explicitly for amplitudes with up to eight external particles, and also provide evidence at all multiplicities. Intriguingly, the map acts as an isomorphism on the normal fans of the Newton polytopes of t…
We present an explicit analytic calculation of the differential of the planar n-particle, two-loop MHV scattering amplitude in N=4 super Yang-Mills theory. The result is expressed only in terms of the polylogarithm functions Li_k(-x), for k=1,2,3, with arguments x belonging to the special class of dual conformal cross-ratios known as cluster X-coordinates. The surprising fact that these amplitudes may be expressed in this way provides a striking example of the manner in which the cluster structure on the kinematic configuration space underlies the structure of amplitudes in SYM theory.
This article proves the cyclicity of anti-NMHV and N$^2$MHV tree amplitudes in planar N=4 SYM up to any number of external particles as an interesting application of positive Grassmannian geometry. In this proof the two-fold simplex-like structures of tree amplitudes introduced in 1609.08627 play a key role, as the cyclicity of amplitudes will induce similar simplex-like structures for the boundary generators of homological identities. For this purpose, we only need a part of all distinct boundary generators, and the relevant identities only involve BCFW-like cells. The manifest cyclic invaria…
We initiate an exploration of on-shell functions in $\mathcal{N}=4$ SYM beyond the planar limit by providing compact, combinatorial expressions for all leading singularities of MHV amplitudes and showing that they can always be expressed as a positive sum of differently ordered Parke-Taylor tree amplitudes. This is understood in terms of an extended notion of positivity in $G(2,n)$, the Grassmannian of 2-planes in $n$ dimensions: a single on-shell diagram can be associated with many different "positive" regions, of which the familiar positive region associated with planar diagrams is just one …
In this paper we continue our study of the tree level MHV graviton scattering amplitudes from the point of view of celestial holography. In arXiv:2008.04330 we showed that the celestial OPE of two gravitons in the MHV sector can be written as a linear combination of $\overline{SL(2,\mathbb C)}$ current algebra and supertranslation descendants. In this note we show that the OPE is in fact manifestly invariant under the infinite dimensional Virasoro algebra as is expected for a $2$-D CFT. This is consistent with the conjecture that the holographic dual in $4$-D asymptotically flat space time is …
In four dimensions, a tree-level double-trace Einstein-Yang-Mills (EYM) amplitude with two negative-helicity gluons (the $(g^-,g^-)$-configuration) satisfies a symmetric spanning forest formula, which was derived from the graphic expansion rule. On another hand, in the framework of Cachazo-He-Yuan (CHY) formula, the maximally-helicity-violating (MHV) amplitudes are supported by the MHV solution of scattering equations. The relationship between the symmetric formula for double-trace amplitudes, and the MHV sector of Cachazo-He-Yuan (CHY) formula in four dimensions is still not clear. In this no…
We explore further the notion of cluster adjacency, focussing on non-MHV amplitudes. We extend the notion of adjacency to the BCFW decomposition of tree-level amplitudes. Adjacency controls the appearance of poles, both physical and spurious, in individual BCFW terms. We then discuss how this notion of adjacency is connected to the adjacency already observed at the level of symbols of scattering amplitudes which controls the appearance of branch cut singularities. Poles and symbols become intertwined by cluster adjacency and we discuss the relation of this property to the $\bar{Q}$-equation wh…
In this paper we define, independent of theories, two discriminant matrices involving a solution to the scattering equations in four dimensions, the ranks of which are used to divide the solution set into a disjoint union of subsets. We further demonstrate, {entirely within the Cachazo-He-Yuan formalism,} that each subset of solutions gives nonzero contribution to tree-level $\text{N}^{k}\text{MHV}$ gauge/gravity amplitudes only for a specific value of $k$. Thus the solutions can be characterized by the rank of their discriminant matrices, which in turn determines the value of $k$ of the $\tex…
The maximally helicity violating (MHV) amplitudes of ${\cal N} =4$ super Yang-Mills theory at strong coupling are obtained by solving auxiliary thermodynamic Bethe ansatz (TBA) integral equations. We consider a limit where the TBA equations are linearized for large chemical potentials and masses therein. By solving the linearized equations, we derive analytic expansions of the 6-point MHV amplitudes in terms of the ratio of the chemical potential $A$ and the mass $M$. The expansions are valid up to corrections exponentially small in $A$ or inversely proportional to powers of $A$. The analytic …
