111 research outputs found
A simple approach to counterterms in N=8 supergravity
We present a simple systematic method to study candidate counterterms in N=8
supergravity. Complicated details of the counterterm operators are avoided
because we work with the on-shell matrix elements they produce. All n-point
matrix elements of an independent SUSY invariant operator of the form D^{2k}
R^n +... must be local and satisfy SUSY Ward identities. These are strong
constraints, and we test directly whether or not matrix elements with these
properties can be constructed. If not, then the operator does not have a
supersymmetrization, and it is excluded as a potential counterterm. For n>4, we
find that R^n, D^2 R^n, D^4 R^n, and D^6 R^n are excluded as counterterms of
MHV amplitudes, while only R^n and D^2 R^n are excluded at the NMHV level. As a
consequence, for loop order L<7, there are no independent D^{2k}R^n
counterterms with n>4. If an operator is not ruled out, our method constructs
an explicit superamplitude for its matrix elements. This is done for the 7-loop
D^4 R^6 operator at the NMHV level and in other cases. We also initiate the
study of counterterms without leading pure-graviton matrix elements, which can
occur beyond the MHV level. The landscape of excluded/allowed candidate
counterterms is summarized in a colorful chart.Comment: 25 pages, 1 figure, published versio
Stringy KLT relations, global symmetries, and E_7(7) violation
We study consequences of the Kawai-Lewellen-Tye (KLT) relations applied to
tree amplitudes in toroidal compactifications of string theory to four
dimensions. The closed string tree amplitudes with massless external states
respect a global SU(4)xSU(4) symmetry, which is enhanced to the SU(8)
R-symmetry of N=8 supergravity in the field theory limit. Our analysis focuses
on two aspects: (i) We provide a detailed account of the simplest
SU(8)-violating amplitudes. We classify these processes and derive explicit
superamplitudes for all local 5- and 6-point operators with SU(4)xSU(4)
symmetry at order alpha'^3. Their origin is the dilatonic operator exp(-6 phi)
R^4 in the closed-string effective action. (ii) We expand the 6-point closed
string tree amplitudes to order alpha'^3 and use two different methods to
isolate the SU(8)-singlet contribution from exp(-6 phi) R^4. This allows us to
extract the matrix elements of the unique SU(8)-invariant supersymmetrization
of R^4. Their single-soft scalar limits are non-vanishing. This demonstrates
that the N=8 supergravity candidate counterterm R^4 is incompatible with
continuous E_7(7) symmetry. From the soft scalar limits, we reconstruct to
quadratic order the SU(8)-invariant function of scalars that multiplies R^4,
and show that it satisfies the Laplace eigenvalue equation derived recently
from supersymmetry and duality constraints.Comment: 23 pages, published versio
An algebraic approach to the scattering equations
We employ the so-called companion matrix method from computational algebraic geometry, tailored for zero-dimensional ideals, to study the scattering equations. The method renders the CHY-integrand of scattering amplitudes computable using simple linear algebra and is amenable to an algorithmic approach. Certain identities in the amplitudes as well as rationality of the final integrand become immediate in this formalism
R^4 counterterm and E7(7) symmetry in maximal supergravity
The coefficient of a potential R^4 counterterm in N=8 supergravity has been
shown previously to vanish in an explicit three-loop calculation. The R^4 term
respects N=8 supersymmetry; hence this result poses the question of whether
another symmetry could be responsible for the cancellation of the three-loop
divergence. In this article we investigate possible restrictions from the coset
symmetry E7(7)/SU(8), exploring the limits as a single scalar becomes soft, as
well as a double-soft scalar limit relation derived recently by Arkani-Hamed et
al. We implement these relations for the matrix elements of the R^4 term that
occurs in the low-energy expansion of closed-string tree-level amplitudes. We
find that the matrix elements of R^4 that we investigated all obey the
double-soft scalar limit relation, including certain
non-maximally-helicity-violating six-point amplitudes. However, the single-soft
limit does not vanish for this latter set of amplitudes, which suggests that
the E7(7) symmetry is broken by the R^4 term.Comment: 33 pages, typos corrected, published versio
On-shell Recursion in String Theory
We prove that all open string theory disc amplitudes in a flat background
obey Britto-Cachazo-Feng-Witten (BCFW) on-shell recursion relations, up to a
possible reality condition on a kinematic invariant. Arguments that the same
holds for tree level closed string amplitudes are given as well. Non-adjacent
BCFW-shifts are related to adjacent shifts through monodromy relations for
which we provide a novel CFT based derivation. All possible recursion relations
are related by old-fashioned string duality. The field theory limit of the
analysis for amplitudes involving gluons is explicitly shown to be smooth for
both the bosonic string as well as the superstring. In addition to a proof a
less rigorous but more powerful argument based on the underlying CFT is
presented which suggests that the technique may extend to a much more general
setting in string theory. This is illustrated by a discussion of the open
string in a constant B-field background and the closed string on the level of
the sphere.Comment: 36 + 9 pages text, one figure, v3: added discussion on relation to
old-fashioned factorization, typos corrected, published versio
Spectrum Generating Conformal and Quasiconformal U-Duality Groups, Supergravity and Spherical Vectors
After reviewing the algebraic structures that underlie the geometries of N=2
Maxwell-Einstein supergravity theories (MESGT) in five and four dimensions with
symmetric scalar manifolds, we give a unified realization of their three
dimensional U-duality groups as spectrum generating quasiconformal groups. They
are F_{4(4)}, E_{6(2)}, E_{7(-5)}, E_{8(-24)} and SO(n+2,4). Our formulation is
covariant with respect to U-duality symmetry groups of corresponding five
dimensional supergravity theories, which are SL(3,R), SL(3,C), SU*(6), E_{6(6)}
and SO(n-1,1)X SO(1,1), respectively. We determine the spherical vectors of
quasiconformal realizations of all these groups twisted by a unitary character.
We also give their quadratic Casimir operators and determine their values. Our
work lays the algebraic groundwork for constructing the unitary representations
of these groups induced by their geometric quasiconformal actions, which
include the quaternionic discrete series. For rank 2 cases, SU(2,1) and
G_{2(2)}, corresponding to simple N=2 supergravity in four and five dimensions,
this program was carried out in arXiv:0707.1669. We also discuss the
corresponding algebraic structures underlying symmetries of matter coupled N=4
and N>4 supergravity theories. They lead to quasiconformal realizations of
split real forms of U-duality groups as a straightforward extension of the
quaternionic real forms.Comment: Section 4 is split with the addition of a subsection on quadratic
Casimir operators; references added; typos corrected. Latex file; 53 page
Quantum Gravity in Everyday Life: General Relativity as an Effective Field Theory
This article is meant as a summary and introduction to the ideas of effective
field theory as applied to gravitational systems.
Contents:
1. Introduction
2. Effective Field Theories
3. Low-Energy Quantum Gravity
4. Explicit Quantum Calculations
5. ConclusionsComment: 56 pages, 2 figures, JHEP style, Invited review to appear in Living
Reviews of Relativit
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