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At least 469 records · Page 26
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1994

Heating of the nighttime D region by very low frequency transmitters

VLF signals propagating in the Earth-ionosphere waveguide are used to probe the heated nighttime D region over three U.S. Navy very low frequency (VLF,3-30 kHz) transmitters. Ionospheric cooling and heating are observed when a transmitter turns off and on in the course of normal operations. Heating by the 24.0-kHz NAA transmitter in Cutler, Maine, (1000 kW radiated power) was observed by this method in 41 of 52 off/on episodes during December 1992, increasing the amplitude and retarding the phase of the 21.4-kHz NSS probe wave propagating from Annapolis, Maryland, to Gander, Newfoundland, by as much as 0.84 dB and 5.3 deg, respectively. In 6 of these 41 episodes, the amplitude of the 28.5-kHz NAU probe wave propagating from Puerto Rico to Gander was also perturbed by as much as 0.29 dB. The latter observations were unexpected due to the greater than 770 km distance between NAA and the NAU-Gander great circle path. Heating by the NSS (21.4 kHz, 265 kW) and NLK (24.8 kHz, 850 kW) transmitters was observed serendipitously in data from earlier measurements of the amplitudes of VLF signals propagating in the Earth-ionosphere waveguide. A three-dimensional model of wave absorption and electron heating in a magnetized, weakly ionized plasma is used to calculate the extent nad shape of the collision frequency (i.e., electron temperature) enhancement above a VLF transmitter. The enhancements are annular, with a geomagnetic north-south asymmetry and a radius at the outer half-maximum of the collision frequency enhancement of about 150 km. Heating by the NAA transmitter is predicted to increase the nighttime D region electron temperature by as much as a factor of 3. The calculated changes in the D region conductivity are used in a three-dimensional model of propagation in the Earth-ionosphere wavelength to predict the effect of the heated patch on a subionospheric VLF probe wave. The range of predicted scattered field amplitudes is in general consistent with the observed signal perturbations. Discrepanices in the predictions are attributed to lack of knowledge of the D region electron density profile along the probe wave great circle paths.

Rodriguez, Juan V.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Bootstrapping the String Kawai-Lewellen-Tye Kernel

We show that a generalized version of the 4-point string theory KLT double-copy map is the most general solution to the minimal-rank double-copy bootstrap in effective field theory. This follows from significant restrictions of the 4-point map resulting from the 6-point bootstrap analysis. The generalized 4-point double-copy map is defined by a function with only two parameters times a simple function that is symmetric in s,t,u. The two parameters can be interpreted as independent choices of α', one for each of the two sets of amplitudes double-copied with the map. Specifically, each of those two sets of amplitudes must obey either the string monodromy relations or the field theory KK & BCJ relations; there are no other options. We propose a closed form of the new double-copy map that interpolates between the original KLT string double-copy and the open & closed string period integrals. The construction clarifies the "single-valued projection" property of the Riemann zeta-function values for the 4-point string theory double copy.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2023

On unitarity of the Coon amplitude

The Coon amplitude is a one-parameter deformation of the Veneziano amplitude. We explore the unitarity of the Coon amplitude through its partial wave expansion using tools from q-calculus. Our analysis establishes manifest positivity on the leading and sub-leading Regge trajectories in arbitrary spacetime dimensions D, while revealing a violation of unitarity in a certain region of (q, D) parameter space starting at the sub-sub-leading Regge order. A combination of numerical studies and analytic arguments allows us to argue for the manifest positivity of the partial wave coefficients in fixed spin and Regge asymptotics.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Exploring quantum statistics for massive Dirac and Majorana neutrinos using spinor-helicity techniques

Recently, there has been interest in the applicability of quantum statistics to distinguish Dirac from Majorana neutrinos in multineutrino final states. In particular, debate has arisen over the validity of the Dirac-Majorana confusion theorem in these processes, i.e., that any distinction between the Dirac and Majorana processes goes to zero as the neutrino mass goes to zero. Here we approach this problem equipped with spinor-helicity methods generalized for massive Dirac and Majorana fermions. We explicitly calculate all helicity amplitudes, and their squares, for the decay of a light scalar particle to two neutrinos and two oppositely charged leptons. This allows us to pinpoint the crucial steps which could lead to claims of a violation of the confusion theorem. We show that, if the correct antisymmetrization of Dirac to Majorana amplitudes is used, identification of which is clear in this framework, and all relevant contributions are appropriately summed, a scalar decay into two charged leptons and two neutrinos satisfies the Dirac-Majorana confusion theorem.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2022

A note on the analytic structure of celestial amplitudes

Celestial amplitudes, obtained by applying Mellin transform and analytic continuation on “ordinary” amplitudes, have interesting properties which may provide useful insights on the underlying theory. Their analytic structures are thus of great interest and need to be better understood. In this paper, we critically examine the analytic structure of celestial amplitudes in a massless low-energy effective field theory. We find that, fixed-order loop contributions, which generate multipoles on the negative β-plane, in general do not provide an accurate description of the analytic structure of celestial amplitudes. By resumming over the leading logarithmic contributions using renormalization group equations (RGEs), we observe much richer analytic structures, which generally contain branch cuts. It is also possible to generate multipoles or shifted single poles if the RGEs satisfy certain relations. Including sub-leading logarithmic contributions is expected to introduce additional corrections to the picture. However, without a new approach, it is difficult to make a general statement since the analytic form of the Mellin transform is challenging to obtain.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Supersymmetric Massive Gravity

We initiate a systematic study of the self-interactions of a massive spin-2 “graviton” consistent with up to N = 4 supersymmetry. Using a recently developed massive on-shell superspace formalism, we construct the most general set of cubic massive graviton amplitudes in a form with all supersymmetry and Lorentz invariance manifest. We find that for N ≥ 3 supersymmetry, the family of consistent interactions coincide with those of the ghost-free dRGT model. For N = 4 (maximal) supersymmetry there is a single consistent cubic interaction which coincides with the unique structure required for the absence of asymptotic superluminality. Additionally, we discuss the structure of interactions in the high-energy limit, connections to supersymmetric Galileons and the possibility of a supersymmetric massive double copy.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Structure of two-loop SMEFT anomalous dimensions via on-shell methods

We describe on-shell methods for computing one- and two-loop anomalous dimensions in the context of effective field theories containing higher-dimension operators. We also summarize methods for computing one-loop amplitudes, which are used as inputs to the computation of two-loop anomalous dimensions, and we explain how the structure of rational terms and judicious renormalization scheme choices can lead to additional vanishing terms in the anomalous dimension matrix at two loops. We describe the two-loop implications for the Standard Model Effective Field Theory (SMEFT). As a by-product of this analysis we verify a variety of one-loop SMEFT anomalous dimensions computed by Alonso, Jenkins, Manohar and Trott.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Symbol alphabets from plabic graphs II: rational letters

Symbol alphabets of n-particle amplitudes in N = 4 super-Yang-Mills theory are known to contain certain cluster variables of G(4, n) as well as certain algebraic functions of cluster variables. The first paper arXiv:2007.00646 in this series focused on n = 8 algebraic letters. In this paper we show that it is possible to obtain all rational symbol letters (in fact all cluster variables) by solving matrix equations of the form C Z = 0 if one allows C to be an arbitrary cluster parameterization of the top cell of G + (n-4, n).

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2020

All-multiplicity one-loop amplitudes in Born-Infeld electrodynamics from generalized unitarity

We initiate a study of non-supersymmetric Born-Infeld electrodynamics in 4d at the quantum level. Explicit all-multiplicity expressions are calculated for the purely rational one-loop amplitudes in the self-dual (+ + … +) and next-to-self-dual (- + … +) helicity sectors. Using a supersymmetric decomposition, d-dimensional unitarity cuts of the integrand factorize into tree-amplitudes in a 4d model of Born-Infeld photons coupled to a massive complex scalar. The two-scalar tree-amplitudes needed to construct the Born-Infeld integrand are computed using two complimentary approaches: (1) as a double-copy of Yang-Mills coupled to a massive adjoint scalar with a dimensionally reduced form of Chiral Perturbation Theory, and (2) by imposing consistency with low-energy theorems under a reduction from 4d to 3d and T-duality. The Born-Infeld integrand is integrated in d = 4 - 2ϵ dimensions at order Ο(ϵ 0 ) using the dimension-shifting formalism. We comment on the implications for electromagnetic duality in quantum Born-Infeld theory.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Uniqueness of MHV Gravity Amplitudes

We investigate MHV tree-level gravity amplitudes as defined on the spinor-helicity variety. Unlike their gluon counterparts, the gravity amplitudes do not have logarithmic singularities and do not admit Amplituhedron-like construction. Importantly, they are not determined just by their singularities, but rather their numerators have interesting zeroes. We make a conjecture about the uniqueness of the numerator and explore this feature from a more mathematical perspective. This leads us to a new approach for examining adjoints. We outline steps of our proposed proof and provide computational evidence for its validity in specific cases.

adjoints↗
DOE OSTI2021

Sum rules in the standard model effective field theory from helicity amplitudes

The dispersion relation of an elastic 4-point amplitude in the forward direction leads to a sum rule that connects the low energy amplitude to the high energy observables. We perform a classification of these sum rules based on massless helicity amplitudes. With this classification, we are able to systematically write down the sum rules for the dimension-6 operators of the Standard Model Effective Field Theory (SMEFT), some of which are absent in previous literatures. These sum rules offer distinct insights on the relations between the operator coefficients in the EFT and the properties of the full theory that generates them. Their applicability goes beyond tree level, and in some cases can be used as a practical method of computing the one loop contributions to low energy observables. They also provide an interesting perspective for understanding the custodial symmetries of the SM Higgs and fermion sectors.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Cosmology meets cohomology

The cosmological polytope and bootstrap programs have revealed interesting connections between positive geometries, modern on-shell methods and bootstrap principles studied in the amplitudes community with the wavefunction of the Universe in toy models of FRW cosmologies. To compute these FRW correlators, one often faces integrals that are too difficult to evaluate by direct integration. Borrowing from the Feynman integral community, the method of (canonical) differential equations provides an efficient alternative for evaluating these integrals. Moreover, we further develop our geometric understanding of these integrals by describing the associated relative twisted cohomology. Leveraging recent progress in our understanding of relative twisted cohomology in the Feynman integral community, we give an algorithm to predict the basis size and simplify the computation of the differential equations satisfied by FRW correlators.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Rational QCD loop amplitudes and quantum theories on twistor space

We show how curing an anomaly of the twistor uplift of self-dual Yang-Mills theory implies linear relations among one-loop, n-gluon, color-ordered subamplitudes in QCD, when all n gluon helicities are positive, or when exactly one is negative. We compute the number of linearly independent subamplitudes as determined by these relations, in terms of unsigned Stirling numbers. Then we use a momentum-twistor parametrization to show that there are no further linear dependencies.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2022

On the differential representation and color-kinematics duality of AdS boundary correlators

The AdS boundary correlators and their dual correlation functions of boundary operators have been the main dynamic observables of the holographic duality relating a bulk AdS theory and a boundary conformal field theory. We show that tree-level AdS boundary correlators for generic states can be expressed as nonlocal differential operators of a certain structure acting on contact Witten diagrams. We further write the boundary correlators in a form that is very similar to flat space amplitudes, with Mandelstam variables replaced by certain combinations of single-state conformal generators, prove that all tree-level AdS boundary correlators have a differential representation, and detail the conversion of such differential expressions to position space. We illustrate the construction through the computation of the boundary correlators of scalars coupled to gluons and gravitons; when converted to position space, they reproduce known results. Color-kinematics duality and BCJ relations can be defined in analogy with their flat space counterparts, and are respected by the scalar correlators with a gluon exchange. We also discuss potential approaches to the double copy and find that its direct generalization may require nontrivial extensions.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2025

Smooth splitting and zeros from on-shell recursion

We describe a new approach to understanding the origins of recently discovered “hidden zeros” and “smooth splitting” of tree-level amplitudes in Tr ϕ 3 , Non-Linear Sigma Model (NLSM), Yang-Mill-Scalar (YMS) and the special Galileon. Introducing a new type of linear shift in kinematic space we demonstrate that the mysterious splitting formulae follow from a simple contour integration argument in the style of on-shell recursion. The argument makes use of only standard notions of tree-level factorization on propagators, but assumes improved UV behavior in the form of the absence of a residue at infinity. In the case of Tr ϕ 3 and NLSM this is proven by identifying our shift as a special case of a more general construction called a g-vector shift; in the case of YMS it remains an unproven conjecture. This recursive perspective leads to numerous new results: we derive generalizations of the splitting formulae on more relaxed near-zero kinematics, including interesting new kinematic limits in which the amplitude splits into a triple-product; we also demonstrate that the uncolored special Galileon model has improved UV scaling and hence also splits. We also investigate the possible realization of hidden zeros in four dimensions. The conditions under which the dimensionality constraints are compatible with zero kinematics is investigated in detail for Tr ϕ 3 and YMS; for the latter we find they can be realized only with certain restrictions on external helicity states. The realizable 4d zeros are proven by a similar recursive argument based on BCFW and is found to generalize to a new class of intrinsically 4d “helicity zeros” present in all sectors of YM and also gravity.

effective field theories↗
DOE OSTI2022

Notes on resonances and unitarity from celestial amplitudes

We study the celestial description of the O(N) sigma model in the large N limit as introduced by Coleman, Jackiw and Politzer. Focusing on three dimensions, we analyze the implications of a UV complete, all-loop order 4-point amplitude of pions in terms of correlation functions defined on the celestial circle. We find these retain many key features from the previously studied tree-level case, such as their relation to Generalized Free Field theories and crossing-symmetry, but also incorporate new properties such as IR/UV softness and S-matrix metastable states. In particular, to understand unitarity, we propose a form of the optical theorem that controls the imaginary part of the correlator based solely on the presence of these resonances. We also explicitly analyze the conformal block expansions and factorization of four-point functions into three-point functions. We find that summing over resonances is key for these factorization properties to hold. We end with some topics for future study.

1/N expansion↗
DOE OSTI2023

On extended supersymmetry of 4d Galileons and 3-brane effective actions

We use on-shell amplitude methods to systematically analyze the possibility of extended supersymmetry for 4d Galileon models, expanding on previous $\mathcal{N}$ = 1 results. Assuming spins ≤1, we prove that there exists no $\mathcal{N}$ = 4 supersymmetric extension of 4d Galileons with a single vector multiplet. Thus the Galileons cannot be part of the effective action of a single flat maximally supersymmetric D3-brane, and that explains why such terms do not appear in the α'-expansion of the abelian open superstring amplitude. For $\mathcal{N}$ = 2 Galileons, we show that the complex scalar Z = $\phi$ + $iχ$ of the vector supermultiplet cannot have $\phi$ and $χ$ both enjoy enhanced shift symmetry; instead, $χ$ can at best be an R-axion with constant shift symmetry. Using the soft bootstrap, we demonstrate that the quartic DBI-Galileon is incompatible with $\mathcal{N}$ = 2 supersymmetry. A similar analysis performed at 7-point shows that a 2-parameter family of $\mathcal{N}$ = 2 supersymmetric quintic Galileons coupled with DBI passes the soft bootstrap. Finally, we show how supersymmetric couplings between Galileons and gravitons arise in generalizations of our constructions, and we conclude with a discussion of Galileons and DBI-Galileons in the context of UV-completability vs. the Swampland.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Non-perturbative geometries for planar $ \mathcal{N} $ = 4 SYM amplitudes

There is a remarkable well-known connection between the G(4, n) cluster algebra and n-particle amplitudes in $ \mathcal{N} $ = 4 SYM theory. For n ≥ 8 two long-standing open questions have been to find a mathematically natural way to identify a finite list of amplitude symbol letters from among the infinitely many cluster variables, and to find an explanation for certain algebraic functions, such as the square roots of four-mass-box type, that are expected to appear in symbols but are not cluster variables. In this letter we use the notion of “stringy canonical forms” to construct polytopal realizations of certain compactifications of (the positive part of) the configuration space Conf n (P k–1 ) ≅ G(k, n)/T that are manifestly finite for all k and n. Some facets of these polytopes are naturally associated to cluster variables, while others are naturally associated to algebraic functions constructed from Lusztig’s canonical basis. For (k, n) = (4, 8) the latter include precisely the expected square roots, revealing them to be related to certain “overpositive” functions of the kinematical invariants.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗