9,253 research outputs found
Two-Loop Maximal Unitarity with External Masses
We extend the maximal unitarity method at two loops to double-box basis
integrals with up to three external massive legs. We use consistency equations
based on the requirement that integrals of total derivatives vanish. We obtain
unique formulae for the coefficients of the master double-box integrals. These
formulae can be used either analytically or numerically.Comment: 41 pages, 7 figures; small corrections, final journal versio
An Overview of Maximal Unitarity at Two Loops
We discuss the extension of the maximal-unitarity method to two loops,
focusing on the example of the planar double box. Maximal cuts are
reinterpreted as contour integrals, with the choice of contour fixed by the
requirement that integrals of total derivatives vanish on it. The resulting
formulae, like their one-loop counterparts, can be applied either analytically
or numerically.Comment: 7 pages, presented at Loops & Legs 2012, Wernigerode, German
Maximal Unitarity for the Four-Mass Double Box
We extend the maximal-unitarity formalism at two loops to double-box
integrals with four massive external legs. These are relevant for higher-point
processes, as well as for heavy vector rescattering, VV -> VV. In this
formalism, the two-loop amplitude is expanded over a basis of integrals. We
obtain formulas for the coefficients of the double-box integrals, expressing
them as products of tree-level amplitudes integrated over specific complex
multidimensional contours. The contours are subject to the consistency
condition that integrals over them annihilate any integrand whose integral over
real Minkowski space vanishes. These include integrals over parity-odd
integrands and total derivatives arising from integration-by-parts (IBP)
identities. We find that, unlike the zero- through three-mass cases, the IBP
identities impose no constraints on the contours in the four-mass case. We also
discuss the algebraic varieties connected with various double-box integrals,
and show how discrete symmetries of these varieties largely determine the
constraints.Comment: 25 pages, 3 figures; final journal versio
The size of the nucleosome
The structural origin of the size of the 11 nm nucleosomal disc is addressed.
On the nanometer length-scale the organization of DNA as chromatin in the
chromosomes involves a coiling of DNA around the histone core of the
nucleosome. We suggest that the size of the nucleosome core particle is
dictated by the fulfillment of two criteria: One is optimizing the volume
fraction of the DNA double helix; this requirement for close-packing has its
root in optimizing atomic and molecular interactions. The other criterion being
that of having a zero strain-twist coupling; being a zero-twist structure is a
necessity when allowing for transient tensile stresses during the
reorganization of DNA, e.g., during the reposition, or sliding, of a nucleosome
along the DNA double helix. The mathematical model we apply is based on a
tubular description of double helices assuming hard walls. When the base-pairs
of the linker-DNA is included the estimate of the size of an ideal nucleosome
is in close agreement with the experimental numbers. Interestingly, the size of
the nucleosome is shown to be a consequence of intrinsic properties of the DNA
double helix.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figures; v2: minor modification
Cross-Order Integral Relations from Maximal Cuts
We study the ABDK relation using maximal cuts of one- and two-loop integrals
with up to five external legs. We show how to find a special combination of
integrals that allows the relation to exist, and how to reconstruct the terms
with one-loop integrals squared. The reconstruction relies on the observation
that integrals across different loop orders can have support on the same
generalized unitarity cuts and can share global poles. We discuss the
appearance of nonhomologous integration contours in multivariate residues.
Their origin can be understood in simple terms, and their existence enables us
to distinguish contributions from different integrals. Our analysis suggests
that maximal and near-maximal cuts can be used to infer the existence of
integral identities more generally.Comment: 58 pages, 19 figures; v2 references adde
MHV, CSW and BCFW: field theory structures in string theory amplitudes
Motivated by recent progress in calculating field theory amplitudes, we study
applications of the basic ideas in these developments to the calculation of
amplitudes in string theory. We consider in particular both non-Abelian and
Abelian open superstring disk amplitudes in a flat space background, focusing
mainly on the four-dimensional case. The basic field theory ideas under
consideration split into three separate categories. In the first, we argue that
the calculation of alpha'-corrections to MHV open string disk amplitudes
reduces to the determination of certain classes of polynomials. This line of
reasoning is then used to determine the alpha'^3-correction to the MHV
amplitude for all multiplicities. A second line of attack concerns the
existence of an analog of CSW rules derived from the Abelian Dirac-Born-Infeld
action in four dimensions. We show explicitly that the CSW-like perturbation
series of this action is surprisingly trivial: only helicity conserving
amplitudes are non-zero. Last but not least, we initiate the study of BCFW
on-shell recursion relations in string theory. These should appear very
naturally as the UV properties of the string theory are excellent. We show that
all open four-point string amplitudes in a flat background at the disk level
obey BCFW recursion relations. Based on the naturalness of the proof and some
explicit results for the five-point gluon amplitude, it is expected that this
pattern persists for all higher point amplitudes and for the closed string.Comment: v3: corrected erroneous statement about Virasoro-Shapiro amplitude
and added referenc
- …