Publications (14)0 Total impact
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ABSTRACT: We develop a manifestly supersymmetric version of the generalized unitarity cut method for calculating scattering amplitudes in N=4 SYM theory. We illustrate the power of this method by computing the one-loop n-point NMHV super-amplitudes. The result confirms two conjectures which we made in arXiv:0807.1095 [hep-th]. Firstly, we derive the compact, manifestly dual superconformally covariant form of the NMHV tree amplitudes for arbitrary number and types of external particles. Secondly, we show that the ratio of the one-loop NMHV to the MHV amplitude is dual conformal invariant.
09/2008;
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ABSTRACT: We argue that the scattering amplitudes in the maximally supersymmetric N=4 super-Yang-Mills theory possess a new symmetry which extends the previously discovered dual conformal symmetry. To reveal this property we formulate the scattering amplitudes as functions in the appropriate dual superspace. Rewritten in this form, all tree-level MHV and next-to-MHV amplitudes exhibit manifest dual superconformal symmetry. We propose a new, compact and Lorentz covariant formula for the tree-level NMHV amplitudes for arbitrary numbers and types of external particles. The dual conformal symmetry is broken at loop level by infrared divergences. However, we provide evidence that the anomalous contribution to the MHV and NMHV superamplitudes is the same and, therefore, their ratio is a dual conformal invariant function. We identify this function by an explicit calculation of the six-particle amplitudes at one loop. We conjecture that these properties hold for all, MHV and non-MHV, superamplitudes in N=4 SYM both at weak and at strong coupling. Comment: 58 pages
07/2008;
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ABSTRACT: We compare the two-loop corrections to the finite part of the light-like hexagon Wilson loop with the recent numerical results for the finite part of the MHV six-gluon amplitude in N=4 SYM theory by Bern, Dixon, Kosower, Roiban, Spradlin, Vergu and Volovich (arXiv:0803.1465 [hep-th]) and demonstrate that they coincide within the error bars and, at the same time, they differ from the BDS ansatz by a non-trivial function of (dual) conformal kinematical invariants. This provides strong evidence that the Wilson loop/scattering amplitude duality holds in planar N=4 SYM theory to all loops for an arbitrary number of external particles.
04/2008;
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ABSTRACT: As a test of the gluon scattering amplitude/Wilson loop duality, we evaluate the hexagonal light-like Wilson loop at two loops in N=4 super Yang-Mills theory. We compare its finite part to the Bern-Dixon-Smirnov (BDS) conjecture for the finite part of the six-gluon amplitude. We find that the two expressions have the same behavior in the collinear limit, but they differ by a non-trivial function of the three (dual) conformally invariant variables. This implies that either the BDS conjecture or the gluon amplitude/Wilson loop duality fails for the six-gluon amplitude, starting from two loops. Our results are in qualitative agreement with the analysis of Alday and Maldacena of scattering amplitudes with infinitely many external gluons.
01/2008;
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ABSTRACT: Planar gluon amplitudes in N=4 SYM are remarkably similar to expectation values of Wilson loops made of light-like segments. We argue that the latter can be determined by making use of the conformal symmetry of the gauge theory, broken by cusp anomalies. We derive the corresponding anomalous conformal Ward identities valid to all loops and show that they uniquely fix the form of the finite part of a Wilson loop with n cusps (up to an additive constant) for n=4 and n=5 and reduce the freedom in it to a function of conformal invariants for n>=6. We also present an explicit two-loop calculation for n=5. The result confirms the form predicted by the Ward identities and exactly matches the finite part of the two-loop five-gluon planar MHV amplitude. This constitutes another non-trivial test of the Wilson loop/gluon amplitude duality. Comment: 28 pages, 5 figures. Published version
12/2007;
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ABSTRACT: There is growing evidence that on-shell gluon scattering amplitudes in planar N=4 SYM theory are equivalent to Wilson loops evaluated over contours consisting of straight, light-like segments defined by the momenta of the external gluons. This equivalence was first suggested at strong coupling using the AdS/CFT correspondence and has since been verified at weak coupling to one loop in perturbation theory. Here we perform an explicit two-loop calculation of the Wilson loop dual to the four-gluon scattering amplitude and demonstrate that the relation holds beyond one loop. We also propose an anomalous conformal Ward identity which uniquely fixes the form of the finite part (up to an additive constant) of the Wilson loop dual to four- and five-gluon amplitudes, in complete agreement with the BDS conjecture for the multi-gluon MHV amplitudes. Comment: 16 pages, 1 figure. v2: minor corrections
09/2007;
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ABSTRACT: We extend and develop a method for perturbative calculations of anomalous dimensions and mixing matrices of leading twist conformal primary operators in conformal field theories. Such operators lie on the unitarity bound and hence are conserved (irreducible) in the free theory. The technique relies on the known pattern of breaking of the irreducibility conditions in the interacting theory. We relate the divergence of the conformal operators via the field equations to their descendants involving an extra field and accompanied by an extra power of the coupling constant. The ratio of the two-point functions of descendants and of their primaries determines the anomalous dimension, allowing us to gain an order of perturbation theory. We demonstrate the efficiency of the formalism on the lowest-order analysis of anomalous dimensions and mixing matrices which is required for two-loop calculations of the former. We compare these results to another method based on anomalous conformal Ward identities and constraints from the conformal algebra. It also permits to gain a perturbative order in computations of mixing matrices. We show the complete equivalence of both approaches.
08/2007;
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ABSTRACT: We propose an iterative procedure for constructing classes of off-shell four-point conformal integrals which are identical. The proof of the identity is based on the conformal properties of a subintegral common for the whole class. The simplest example are the so-called `triple scalar box' and `tennis court' integrals. In this case we also give an independent proof using the method of Mellin--Barnes representation which can be applied in a similar way for general off-shell Feynman integrals. Comment: 13 pages, 12 figures. New proof included with neater discussion of contact terms. Typo corrected
07/2006;
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ABSTRACT: We propose a mechanism for calculating anomalous dimensions of higher-spin twist-two operators in N=4 SYM. We consider the ratio of the two-point functions of the operators and of their superconformal descendants or, alternatively, of the three-point functions of the operators and of the descendants with two protected half-BPS operators. These ratios are proportional to the anomalous dimension and can be evaluated at n-1 loop in order to determine the anomalous dimension at n loops. We illustrate the method by reproducing the well-known one-loop result by doing only tree-level calculations. We work out the complete form of the first-generation descendants of the twist-two operators and the scalar sector of the second-generation descendants. Comment: references added; typos corrected
07/2005;
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ABSTRACT: Planar gluon amplitudes in N=4 SYM are remarkably similar to expectation values of Wilson loops made of light-like segments. We argue that the latter can be determined by making use of the conformal symmetry of the gauge theory, broken by cusp anomalies. We derive the corresponding anomalous conformal Ward identities valid to all loops and show that they uniquely fix the form of the finite part of a Wilson loop with n cusps (up to an additive constant) for n=4 and 5 and reduce the freedom in it to a function of conformal invariants for n⩾6. We also present an explicit two-loop calculation for n=5. The result confirms the form predicted by the Ward identities and matches the finite part of the two-loop five-gluon planar MHV amplitude, up to a constant. This constitutes another non-trivial test of the Wilson loop/gluon amplitude duality.
Nuclear Physics B.
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ABSTRACT: As a test of the gluon scattering amplitude/Wilson loop duality, we evaluate the hexagonal light-like Wilson loop at two loops in N=4 super-Yang–Mills theory. We compare its finite part to the Bern–Dixon–Smirnov (BDS) conjecture for the finite part of the six-gluon amplitude. We find that the two expressions have the same behavior in the collinear limit, but they differ by a non-trivial function of the three (dual) conformally invariant variables. This implies that either the BDS conjecture or the gluon amplitude/Wilson loop duality fails for the six-gluon amplitude, starting from two loops. Our results are in qualitative agreement with the analysis of Alday and Maldacena of scattering amplitudes with infinitely many external gluons.
Physics Letters B.
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ABSTRACT: We argue that all scattering amplitudes in the maximally supersymmetric N=4 super-Yang–Mills theory possess a new, dual superconformal symmetry which extends the previously discovered dual conformal symmetry of MHV amplitudes. To reveal this property we formulate the scattering amplitudes as functions on the appropriate dual superspace. Rewritten in this form, all tree-level MHV and next-to-MHV amplitudes exhibit manifest dual superconformal symmetry. We propose a new, compact and Lorentz covariant formula for the tree-level NMHV amplitudes for arbitrary numbers and types of external particles. The dual superconformal symmetry is broken at loop level by infrared divergences. However, we provide evidence that the dual conformal anomaly of the MHV and NMHV superamplitudes is the same and, therefore, their ratio is dual conformally invariant. We show this explicitly for the six-particle amplitudes at one loop. We conjecture that these properties hold for all, MHV and non-MHV, superamplitudes in N=4 SYM both at weak and at strong coupling.
Nuclear Physics B.
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ABSTRACT: We compare the two-loop corrections to the finite part of the light-like hexagon Wilson loop with the recent numerical results for the finite part of the MHV six-gluon amplitude in N=4 SYM theory by Bern, Dixon, Kosower, Roiban, Spradlin, Vergu and Volovich (arXiv:0803.1465 [hep-th]) and demonstrate that they coincide within the error bars and, at the same time, they differ from the BDS ansatz by a non-trivial function of (dual) conformal kinematical invariants. This provides strong evidence that the Wilson loop/scattering amplitude duality holds in planar N=4 SYM theory to all loops for an arbitrary number of external particles.
Nuclear Physics B.
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[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: There is growing evidence that on-shell gluon scattering amplitudes in planar N=4 SYM theory are equivalent to Wilson loops evaluated over contours consisting of straight, light-like segments defined by the momenta of the external gluons. This equivalence was first suggested at strong coupling using the AdS/CFT correspondence and has since been verified at weak coupling to one loop in perturbation theory. Here we perform an explicit two-loop calculation of the Wilson loop dual to the four-gluon scattering amplitude and demonstrate that the relation holds beyond one loop. We also propose an anomalous conformal Ward identity which uniquely fixes the form of the finite part (up to an additive constant) of the Wilson loop dual to four- and five-gluon amplitudes, in complete agreement with the BDS conjecture for the multi-gluon MHV amplitudes.
Nuclear Physics B.
