We examine in detail the structure of the Regge limit of the (nonplanar) ${\cal N}=4$ SYM four-point amplitude. We begin by developing a basis of color factors $C_{ik}$ suitable for the Regge limit of the amplitude at any loop order, and then calculate explicitly the coefficients of the amplitude in that basis through three-loop order using the Regge limit of the full amplitude previously calculated by Henn and Mistlberger. We compute these coefficients exactly at one loop, through ${\cal O} (ε^2)$ at two loops, and through ${\cal O} (ε^0)$ at three loops, verifying that the IR-divergent pieces are consistent with (the Regge limit of) the expected infrared divergence structure, including a contribution from the three-loop correction to the dipole formula. We also verify consistency with the IR-finite NLL and NNLL predictions of Caron-Huot et al. Finally we use these results to motivate the conjecture of an all-orders relation between one of the coefficients and the Regge limit of the ${\cal N} =8$ supergravity four-point amplitude.
In this second part of our investigation of the analytic structure of the $2\to5$ scattering amplitude in the planar limit of $\mathcal{N}=4$ SYM in multi-Regge kinematics we compute, in all kinematic regions, the Regge cut contributions in leading order. The results are infrared finite and conformally invariant.
We consider the description of reggeon amplitudes (Wilson lines form factors) in N=4 SYM within the framework of four dimensional ambitwistor string theory. The latter is used to derive scattering equations representation for reggeon amplitudes with multiple reggeized gluons present. It is shown, that corresponding tree-level string correlation function correctly reproduces previously obtained Grassmannian integral representation of reggeon amplitudes in N=4 SYM.
In this paper we present the all-loop conjecture for integrands of Wilson line form factors, also known as reggeon amplitudes, in N=4 SYM. In particular we present a new gluing operation in momentum twistor space used to obtain reggeon tree-level amplitudes and loop integrands starting from corresponding expressions for on-shell amplitudes. The introduced gluing procedure is used to derive BCFW recursions both for tree-level reggeon amplitudes and their loop integrands. In addition we provide predictions for reggeon loop integrands written in the basis of local integrals. As a check of the cor…
Local effective action is derived to describe Regge asymptotic of Yang-Mills theories. Local symmetries of the effective action originating from the gauge symmetry of the underlying Yang-Mills theory are studied. Multicomponent effective action is introduced to express the symmetry transformations as field transformations. The algebra of these symmetries is decomposed onto a semi-direct sum of commutative algebras and four copies of the gauge algebra of the underlying Yang-Mills theory. Possibility of existence of solitons corresponding to the commutative subalgebra of the symmetry algebra is …
A dual conformal symmetry, analogous to the dual conformal symmetry observed for the scattering amplitudes of N=4 Super Yang-Mills theory, is identified in the Regge limit of QCD. Combined with the original two-dimensional conformal symmetry of the theory, this dual symmetry can potentially explain the integrability of the BFKL Hamiltonian. We also give evidence that the symmetry survives when a subset of unitarity corrections are taken into account by studying briefly the non-planar 2 to m reggeon transition vertices.
We derive a compact all-loop-order expression for the IR-divergent part of the N=4 SYM four-gluon amplitude, which includes both planar and all subleading-color contributions, based on the assumption that the higher-loop soft anomalous dimension matrices are proportional to the one-loop soft anomalous dimension matrix, as has been recently conjectured. We also consider the Regge limit of the four-gluon amplitude, and we present evidence that the leading logarithmic growth of the subleading-color amplitudes is less severe than that of the planar amplitudes. We examine possible 1/N^2 corrections…
Continuing our investigations of the analytic structure of the 2->n scattering amplitudes in the planar limit of N=4 SYM in multi-Regge kinematics we compute, in all kinematic regions, the Regge cut contributions of the 2->6 process in leading order. Compared to previous studies of the 2->4 and the 2->5 processes we encounter two new features: the 3-reggon cut and the product of two 2-reggeon cut contributions.
We introduce a method to extract the symbol of the coefficient of $(2πi)^2$ of MHV remainder functions in planar N=4 Super Yang-Mills in multi-Regge kinematics region directly from the symbol in full kinematics. At two loops this symbol can be uplifted to the full function in a unique way, without any beyond-the-symbol ambiguities. We can therefore determine all two-loop MHV amplitudes at function level in all kinematic regions with different energy signs in multi-Regge kinematics. We analyse our results and we observe that they are consistent with the hypothesis of a contribution from the exc…
A previously proposed all-loop-orders relation between the Regge limits of four-point amplitudes of N=4 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory and N=8 supergravity is established at the three-loop level. We show that the Regge limit of known expressions for the amplitudes obtained using generalized unitarity simplifies in both cases to a (modified) sum over three-loop ladder and crossed-ladder scalar diagrams. This in turn is consistent with the result obtained using the eikonal representation of the four-point gravity amplitude. A possible exact three-loop relation between four-point amplitudes is …
It is shown that the four-gluon scattering amplitude for N=4 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory in the planar limit can be written, in both the weak- and strong-coupling limits, as a reggeized amplitude, with a parent trajectory and an infinite number of daughter trajectories. This result relies crucially on the fact that the leading IR-divergence and the finite log^2(s/t)-dependent piece of the amplitude are characterized by the same function for all values of the coupling, as conjectured by Bern, Dixon, and Smirnov, and proved by Alday and Maldacena in the strong-coupling limit. We use the Ald…
We investigate the analytic structure of the $2\to5$ scattering amplitude in the planar limit of $\mathcal{N}=4$ SYM in multi-Regge kinematics in all physical regions. We demonstrate the close connection between Regge pole and Regge cut contributions: in a selected class of kinematic regions (Mandelstam regions) the usual factorizing Regge pole formula develops unphysical singularities which have to be absorbed and compensated by Regge cut contributions. This leads, in the corrections to the BDS formula, to conformal invariant 'renormalized' Regge pole expressions in the remainder function. We…
The high-energy behavior of N=4 SYM elastic amplitudes at strong coupling is studied by means of the AdS/CFT correspondence. We consider the eikonal method proposed by Janik and one of the authors, where the relevant minimal surface is a "generalized helicoid" in hyperbolic space ("Euclidean AdS_5"), from which the physical amplitude is obtained after an appropriate analytic continuation. We then compare our results with those obtained, using a minimal surface in AdS_5 momentum space, by Alday and Maldacena for gluon-gluon scattering, and by Barnes and Vaman for quark-quark scattering ("Alday-…
We show that a scale invariant approximation to the next-to-leading order BFKL kernel, constructed via transverse momentum diagrams, has a simple conformally invariant representation in impact parameter space i.e. K(r1,r2,r1',r2') = g^4 N^2 ln^4[(|r1-r1'||r2-r2'|)/(|r1-r2'||r2-r1'|)] That a conformally invariant representation exists is shown first by relating the kernel directly to Feynman diagrams contributing to two photon diffractive dissociation.
We compute the three-loop leading-colour corrections to the Yang-Mills Regge trajectory and gluon impact factor. Conjecturing that, in analogy with $\mathcal{N}=4$ super Yang-Mills (SYM), in a suitable scheme $N_c$-subleading terms are absent from the three-loop Regge trajectory, we understand our result as the first computation of the pure gauge, or $n_f = 0$, part of the QCD three-loop Regge trajectory. The results are presented both for the bare and renormalised amplitudes and are consistent with predictions from infrared factorisation along with reproducing known results in planar $\mathca…
We consider the multi-Regge limit for N=4 SYM NMHV leading color amplitudes in two different formulations: the BFKL formalism for multi-Regge amplitudes in leading logarithm approximation, and superconformal N=4 SYM amplitudes. It is shown that the two approaches agree to two-loops for the 2->4 and 3->3 six-point amplitudes. Predictions are made for the multi-Regge limit of three loop 2->4 and 3->3 NMHV amplitudes, as well as a particular sub-set of two loop 2 ->2 +n N^kMHV amplitudes in the multi-Regge limit in the leading logarithm approximation from the BFKL point of view.
In this paper we continue our study of the dual SL(2,C) symmetry of the BFKL equation, analogous to the dual conformal symmetry of N=4 Super Yang Mills. We find that the ordinary and dual SL(2,C) symmetries do not generate a Yangian, in contrast to the ordinary and dual conformal symmetries in the four-dimensional gauge theory. The algebraic structure is still reminiscent of that of N=4 SYM, however, and one can extract a generator from the dual SL(2,C) close to the bi-local form associated with Yangian algebras. We also discuss the issue of whether the dual SL(2,C) symmetry, which in its orig…
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…
We compute the three-loop contribution to the N=4 supersymmetric Yang-Mills planar four-gluon amplitude using the recently-proposed Higgs IR regulator of Alday, Henn, Plefka, and Schuster. In particular, we test the proposed exponential ansatz for the four-gluon amplitude that is the analog of the BDS ansatz in dimensional regularization. By evaluating our results at a number of kinematic points, and also in several kinematic limits, we establish the validity of this ansatz at the three-loop level. We also examine the Regge limit of the planar four-gluon amplitude using several different IR re…
We describe a general algorithm for the computation of the remainder function for n-gluon scattering in multi-Regge kinematics for strongly coupled planar N=4 super Yang-Mills theory. This regime is accessible through the infrared physics of an auxiliary quantum integrable system describing strings in AdS5xS5. Explicit formulas are presented for n=6 and n=7 external gluons. Our results are consistent with expectations from perturbative gauge theory. This paper comprises the technical details for the results announced in arXiv:1405.3658 .
We study the symbol of the two-loop n-gluon MHV amplitude for all Mandelstam regions in multi-Regge kinematics in N=4 super Yang-Mills theory. While the number of distinct Mandelstam regions grows exponentially with n, the increase of independent symbols turns out to be merely quadratic. We uncover how to construct the symbols for any number of external gluons from just two building blocks which are naturally associated with the six- and seven-gluon amplitude, respectively. The second building block is entirely new, and in addition to its symbol, we also construct a prototype function that cor…
A novel way of computing high-order amplitudes in the multi-Regge limit of planar maximally supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory is presented. In this framework, we are able to obtain high-loop and high-leg results by an easy operation on known amplitudes with fewer loops and lower multiplicity. This mechanism will be reviewed, along with an ensuing factorisation which allows us to determine leading logarithmic MHV results for any number of legs at a fixed loop order.
A general relation between families of (n+1) gluon and n gluon eigenstates of the BKP evolution kernels in the multicolour limit of QCD is derived. It allows to construct an (n+1) gluon eigenstate if an n gluon eigenstate is known; this solution is Bose symmetric and thus physical for even n. A recently found family of odderon solutions corresponds to the particular case n=2.
We review the systematics of Mandelstam cut contributions to planar scattering amplitudes in the multi-Regge limit. Isolating the relevant cut terms, we explain how the BFKL expansion can be used to construct the perturbative n-point multi-Regge limit amplitude in certain kinematic regions from a finite number of basic building blocks. At three loops and at leading logarithmic order, two building blocks are required. Their symbols are extracted from the known three-loop six-point and seven-point symbols for general kinematics. The new seven-point building block is constructed in terms of singl…
We show that each 26D open bosonic Regge string scattering amplitude (RSSA) can be expressed in terms of one single Appell function $F_1$ in the Regge limit. This result enables us to derive infinite number of recurrence relations among RSSA at arbitrary mass levels, which are conjectured to be related to the known SL(5,C) dynamical symmetry of $F_1$. In addition, we show that these recurrence relations in the Regge limit can be systematically solved so that all RSSA can be expressed in terms of one amplitude. All these results are dual to high energy symmetries of fixed angle string scatterin…
We study the pairwise interaction of reggeized gluons and quarks in the Regge limit of perturbative QCD. The interactions are represented as integral kernels in the transverse momentum space and as operators in the impact parameter space. We observe conformal symmetry and holomorphic factorization in all cases.
We consider positivity constraints applicable to the Effective Field Theory (EFT) of gravity in arbitrary dimensions. By considering scattering of indefinite initial and final states, we highlight the existence of a gravitational scattering amplitude for which full crossing symmetry is manifest and utilize the recently developed crossing symmetric dispersion relations to derive compact non-linear bounds. We show that the null constraints built into these dispersion relations lead to a finite energy sum rule for gravity which may be extended to a one-parameter family of continuous moment sum ru…
We discover an infinite number of recurrence relations among Regge string scattering amplitudes \cite{bosonic,RRsusy} of different string states at arbitrary mass levels in the open bosonic string theory. As a result, all Regge string scattering amplitudes can be algebraically solved up to multiplicative factors. Instead of decoupling zero-norm states in the fixed angle regime, the calculation is based on recurrence relations and addition theorem of Kummer functions of the second kind. These recurrence relations among Regge string scattering amplitudes are dual to linear relations or symmetrie…
In Regge calculus the space-time manifold is approximated by certain abstract simplicial complex, called a pseudo-manifold, and the metric is approximated by an assignment of a length to each 1-simplex. In this paper for each pseudomanifold we construct a smooth manifold which we call a manifold with defects. This manifold emerges from the purely combinatorial simplicial complex as a result of gluing geometric realizations of its n-simplices followed by removing the simplices of dimension n-2. The Regge geometry is encoded in a boundary data of a BF-theory on this manifold. We construct an act…
The relation between Loop Quantum Gravity and Regge calculus has been pointed out many times in the literature. In particular the large spin asymptotics of the Barrett-Crane vertex amplitude is known to be related to the Regge action. In this paper we study a semiclassical regime of Loop Quantum Gravity and show that it admits an effective description in terms of perturbative area-Regge-calculus. The regime of interest is identified by a class of states given by superpositions of four-valent spin networks, peaked on large spins. As a probe of the dynamics in this regime, we compute explicitly …
We propose a model which represents a four-dimensional version of Ponzano and Regge's three-dimensional euclidean quantum gravity. In particular we show that the exponential of the euclidean Einstein-Regge action for a $4d$-discretized block is given, in the semiclassical limit, by a gaussian integral of a suitable $12j$-symbol. Possible developments of this result are discussed.
We calculate the complete closed string high energy scattering amplitudes (HSA) in the Regge regime for arbitrary mass levels. As an application, we deduce the complete ratios among closed string HSA in the fixed angle regime by using Stirling number identities. These results are in contrast with the incomplete set of closed string HSA in the fixed angle regime calculated previously. The complete forms of the fixed angle amplitudes, and hence the ratios, were not calculable previously without the input of zero-norm state calculation. This is mainly due to the lack of saddle point in the fixed …
A method of calculation of the scattering amplitude for fermions and scalar bosons with exchanging of a scalar particle in ladder approximation is suggested. The Bethe-Salpeter ladder integral equations system for the imaginary part of the amplitude is costructed and solution in the Regge asymptotical form is found. The corrections to the amplitude due to the exit from mass shell are calculated and the real part of the amplitude is found.
It has recently been argued that the symmetric orbifold theory of T4 is dual to string theory on AdS3 x S3 x T4 at the tensionless point. At this point in moduli space, the theory possesses a very large symmetry algebra that includes, in particular, a $W_\infty$ algebra capturing the gauge fields of a dual higher spin theory. Using conformal perturbation theory, we study the behaviour of the symmetry generators of the symmetric orbifold theory under the deformation that corresponds to switching on the string tension. We show that the generators fall nicely into Regge trajectories, with the hig…
We examine the calculation of the color-ordered disk level S-matrix element of massless scalar vertex operators for the special case that some of the Mandelstam variables for which there are no open string channel in the amplitude, are set to zero. By explicit calculation we show that the string form factors in the 2n-point functions reduce to one at the eikonal Regge limit.
The S-matrix in the static limit of a dispersion relation is a matrix of a finite order N of meromorphic functions of energy $ω$ in the plane with cuts $(-\infty,-1],[+1,+\infty)$. In the elastic case it reduces to N functions $S_{i}(ω)$ connected by the crossing symmetry matrix A. The scattering of a neutral pseodoscalar meson with an arbitrary angular momentum l at a source with spin 1/2 is considered (N=2). The Regge trajectories of this model are explicitly found.
We develop the technology for Polyakov-Mellin (PM) bootstrap in one-dimensional conformal field theories (CFT$_1$). By adding appropriate contact terms, we bootstrap various effective field theories in AdS$_2$ and analytically compute the CFT data to one loop. The computation can be extended to higher orders in perturbation theory, if we ignore mixing, for any external dimension. We develop PM bootstrap for $O(N)$ theories and derive the necessary contact terms for such theories (which also involves a new higher gradient contact term absent for $N=1$). We perform cross-checks which include con…
A first order form of Regge calculus is defined in the spirit of Palatini's action for general relativity. The extra independent variables are the interior dihedral angles of a simplex, with conjugate variables the areas of the triangles. There is a discussion of the extent to which these areas can be used to parameterise the space of edge lengths of a simplex.
The connection between angular momentum in quantum mechanics and geometric objects is extended to manifold with torsion. First, we notice the relation between the $6j$ symbol and Regge's discrete version of the action functional of Euclidean three dimensional gravity with torsion, then consider the Ponzano and Regge asymptotic formula for the Wigner $6j$ symbol on this simplicial manifold with torsion. In this approach, a three dimensional manifold $M$ is decomposed into a collection of tetrahedra, and it is assumed that each tetrahedron is filled in with flat space and the torsion of $M$ is c…
In this article, we prove the theorems concerning the trace relation of SO(3), SU(2), and SO(n) which are representation of SO(3) and SU(2). An interesting fact we found is the trace relation of SU(2) gives the spherical law of cosine which in turns is a dihedral angle relation, a constraint that must be satisfied by closed Euclidean simplices. Moreover, we applied our results on general group elements to holonomies on the simplicial complex of Regge Calculus, which is the main motivation of this article. Here, we found that: (1) in 4-dimensional Euclidean Regge Gravity, all the holonomy circl…
In this paper, a candidate for pregeometry, Ponzano-Regge spin networks, will be examined in the context of the pregeometric philosophy of Wheeler. Ponzano and Regge were able to construct a theory for 3-dimensional quantum gravity based on 3nj-symbols, obtaining the path integral over the metric in the semiclassical limit. However, extension of this model to 4-dimensions has proven to be difficult. It will be shown that the building blocks for 4-dimensional spacetime are already present in the Ponzano-Regge formalism using a reinterpretation of the theory based on the pregeometric hypotheses …
We show how to properly gauge fix all the symmetries of the Ponzano-Regge model for 3D quantum gravity. This amounts to do explicit finite computations for transition amplitudes. We give the construction of the transition amplitudes in the presence of interacting quantum spinning particles. We introduce a notion of operators whose expectation value gives rise to either gauge fixing, introduction of time, or insertion of particles, according to the choice. We give the link between the spin foam quantization and the hamiltonian quantization. We finally show the link between Ponzano-Regge model a…
We study a holographic construction of conformal blocks in the Regge limit of four-point scalar correlation functions by using coordinates of the two-sided Rindler-AdS black hole. As a generalization of geodesic Witten diagrams, we construct diagrams with four external scalar fields in the Rindler-AdS black hole by integrating over two half-geodesics between the centers of Penrose diagrams and points at the AdS boundary. We demonstrate that late-time behaviors of the diagrams coincide with the Regge behaviors of conformal blocks. We also point out their relevance with the pole-skipping phenome…
