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Physics High Energy Physics (Theory)

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Thursday 9 April

High Energy Physics (Theory)

$\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric Field Theories at Finite Temperature

We investigate the thermal properties of $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric scalar field theories with purely imaginary couplings. The free energy governs the asymptotic density of states, providing an effective measure of the number of degrees of freedom, while thermal masses and one-point functions provide predictions for operator dimensions and three-point functions in the corresponding $d=2$ Conformal Field Theories. Naive finite-temperature perturbation theory near upper critical dimensions is spoiled by infrared divergences. To remove these divergences, we introduce a ”thermal normal-ordering” scheme that resums these contributions and yields a systematic $\epsilon$-expansion. This framework allows us to compute the free energy, thermal masses, and one-point functions in the cubic and quintic $O(N)$ models. We compare the thermal free energy density, thermal masses, and one-point function in two dimensions with exact results derived from the proposed Ginzburg-Landau descriptions of the non-unitary minimal models $M(2,5)$ and $M(3,8)_D$. Eventually, we employ two-sided Padé extrapolations to obtain estimates for the thermal free energy in $d=3,4,5$.
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High Energy Physics (Theory)

Lifshitz-like black branes in arbitrary dimensions and the third law of thermodynamics

In this paper we present a systematic construction of an(isotropic) black brane solutions in arbitrary spacetime dimensions $D$ in particular, with Lifshitz-like asymptotics. Two distinct holographic models are considered. The first model involves a scalar field with a potential coupled to two Maxwell fields, allowing for both electric and magnetic charges. The second model includes a scalar field, a Maxwell field, and a three-form field strength of a Kalb-Ramond field. For each model, exact solutions for the metric, scalar field, gauge fields, and coupling functions are derived, incorporating anisotropic scaling exponents and general warp factors, including Gaussian forms. The results generalize previously known five-dimensional anisotropic black brane solutions to arbitrary dimensions. We show that the third law of thermodynamics, which requires entropy to vanish as temperature approaches zero, is satisfied for a certain range of parameters in both models. However, for specific warp factors or coupling constants, the entropy-temperature relation exhibits non-monotonic or multi-valued behavior, suggesting the possibility of phase transitions and a violation of the third law.
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High Energy Physics (Theory)

Lifshitz-like Magnetic Black Branes: Third Law of Thermodynamics and the Null Energy Condition

We develop a procedure to solve Einstein-dilaton-Maxwell models in quadratures using the potential reconstruction approach. We then apply this procedure to three distinct models, examining both the null energy condition (NEC) and the validity of the third law of thermodynamics in each case. The explicit knowledge of the blackening function – as opposed to relying solely on numerical data – allows us to discuss the validity of the third law in detail. The three models considered are: (I) a 5D model with two Maxwell fields, featuring anisotropy specified by a Gaussian function and a Lifshitz function; (II) the same 5D model as in (I), but with anisotropy parametrized by two Lifshitz parameters; and (III) a 6D model with one 2-form and one 3-form field, with the metric parametrized by two Lifshitz parameters. We show that for models I and II the parameter regions, where both the NEC and the third law are satisfied, exhibit no correlation between the two conditions. In contrast, for model III the validity of the NEC implies the validity of the third law.
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High Energy Physics (Theory)

Discrete symmetries of Feynman integrals

We perform a comprehensive study of a certain class of discrete symmetries of families of Feynman integrals, defined as affine changes of variables that map different sectors of the family into each other. We show that these transformations are always encoded into permutations of the Feynman parameters that relate the Lee-Pomeransky polynomials of the two sectors, irrespective of the integral representation used to define the Feynman integrals. We then construct an affine map in loop-momentum space that encodes such a permutation. We also show that these symmetries can be naturally embedded into the framework of twisted cohomology theories, and the period and intersection parings are invariant under the symmetry transformations. If we focus on symmetries within a fixed sector, we obtain a group acting on the twisted cohomology group, and we study the decomposition of this action into irreducible representations. One of our main mathematical results is that the character of this representation is proportional to the Euler characteristic of the corresponding fixed-point set. We then study the implications for Feynman integrals, in particular for the intersection matrix in a canonical basis. We also present a formula for the number of master integrals in a given sector in the presence of a non-trivial symmetry group in terms of the Euler characteristics of fixed-point sets. As an application, we obtain the numbers of master integrals for banana integrals with up to four loops for arbitrary configurations of non-zero masses. In order to achieve our results, we had to combine tools from various different areas of mathematics, including graph theory, group theory and algebraic topology.
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All authors Claude Duhr, Sara Maggio, Cathrin Semper, Sven F. Stawinski

High Energy Physics (Theory) · Cross-listed from gr-qc

Unifying topological, geometric, and complex classifications of black hole thermodynamics

Black hole thermodynamics has recently witnessed three distinct classification schemes: based on local geometric properties of the temperature function, global topological invariants, and Riemann surface foliations in the complex plane. We show that these schemes can be precisely mapped onto one another in the real domain via two dictionaries: one linking thermal stability to the monotonicity of the temperature curve, and the other connecting the number of black hole states to the foliation number of a Riemann surface. The number of extremal points of the temperature curve determines the classification in all three frameworks, tracing this unification to the critical point structure of the black hole solution space. As an illustration, several black holes demonstrate how counting extrema yields topological invariants and phase transition information. This unified framework simplifies black hole thermodynamic analysis and provides a foundation for exploring more complex black holes.
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All authors Shi-Hao Zhang, Shao-Wen Wei, Jing-Fei Zhang, Xin Zhang

High Energy Physics (Theory) · Cross-listed from gr-qc

Positivity of holographic energy

We prove positivity of a weighted holographic energy for four-dimensional spacetimes with negative cosmological constant whose conformal boundary at infinity is conformally static and admits either spherical sections, or toroidal sections with compatible spin structure.

High Energy Physics (Theory) · Cross-listed from gr-qc

Thermodynamics and orbital structure of anti-de Sitter black holes in Palatini-inspired nonlinear electrodynamics

We construct a consistent anti-de Sitter completion of the static and spherically symmetric black-hole solution sourced by the Palatini-inspired nonlinear electrodynamics \(Y^n\) model. Starting from the Einstein–Hilbert action with a negative cosmological constant and the first-order PINLED sector, we derive the full set of field equations and show that the nonlinear electromagnetic solution preserves its original parametric structure, while the lapse function acquires the standard AdS contribution. We then analyze the horizon structure, Hawking temperature, extended phase-space thermodynamics, and the associated equation of state. In addition, we investigate null and timelike geodesics, with emphasis on the effective potentials, photon sphere, shadow radius for a static observer at finite distance, and innermost stable circular orbit. The resulting framework furnishes the exact AdS extension of the asymptotically flat PINLED black hole and provides a coherent basis for numerical and phenomenological studies of its thermodynamic, optical, and orbital properties.
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High Energy Physics (Theory)

Caustic formation in DBI models: Wave propagation on planar domain walls

We investigate propagation of generic waves on thin planar domain walls effectively described by the scalar Dirac-Born-Infeld model (DBI). We pay a particular attention to the possibility of caustic formation - the process, which may lead to intensive particle emission by domain walls. It is demonstrated that no singularities arise in DBI in 2D flat spacetime in the hyperbolic case, if one starts from smooth initial conditions. Technically, this happens because the same family characteristics of the relevant partial differential equation remain parallel at all the times, albeit not being straight lines generically. Crucially, characteristic curves cease to be parallel beyond the simplified setup of DBI in 2D flat spacetime. In particular, this is shown to be the case in $D>2$ for spherical waves, in an expanding Universe, and in the case of a minimal deformation of DBI necessary for avoiding the domain wall problem in cosmology. However, we prove that DBI remains caustic free in the hyperbolic case in all these physically relevant situations. This strongly suggests that caustics can form on planar domain walls only due to the loss of hyperbolicity, and they have a cusp profile. We demonstrate, how the non-trivial structure of DBI characteristics beyond the 2D flat spacetime setup uncovered in this work can significantly affect cusp formation.
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All authors E. Babichev, B. Gafarov, S. Ramazanov, M. Valencia-Villegas

High Energy Physics (Theory)

Higher-Spin Gravity in Two Dimensions with Vanishing Cosmological Constant

In this paper, we use a version of the BF formulation of two-dimensional dilaton gravity that allows to define a gauge theory of the two-dimensional Poincaré or Maxwell algebras and several of their higher-spin generalisations, both of finite and infinite dimension. The spectrum of the two-dimensional higher-spin gravity with vanishing cosmological constant based on the extended, infinite-dimensional higher-spin algebra is shown to contain an infinite collection of scalar degrees of freedom with a continuum of ever increasing mass, corresponding to the twisted-(co)adjoint representation. We comment on an approach to include backreaction of the scalar fields on the gravity sector at the level of formal equations of motion, thereby providing a first example of a fully interacting higher-spin gravity theory with vanishing cosmological constant in two dimensions.
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High Energy Physics (Theory)

Leading low-temperature correction to the Heisenberg-Euler Lagrangian

In this note, we show that the well-known leading low-temperature correction to the Heisenberg-Euler Lagrangian in a constant electromagnetic field arising at two loops can be efficiently extracted from its one-loop zero-temperature analogue. Resorting to the real-time formalism of equilibrium quantum field theory that explicitly separates out the zero-temperature contribution from the finite-temperature corrections the determination becomes essentially trivial. In essence, it only requires taking derivatives of the Heisenberg-Euler Lagrangian at one loop and zero temperature for the field strength. As a bonus, we then effectively dress the low-temperature contribution at two loops by one-particle reducible tadpole structures. This generates a subset of higher-loop contributions to the Heisenberg-Euler Lagrangian in the limit of low temperatures. We extract their leading strong-field behavior at a given loop order, and finally resum these to all loop orders.
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High Energy Physics (Theory) · Cross-listed from hep-ph

Memory effect on the heavy quark dynamics in hot QCD matter

We study the heavy quark dynamics in the presence of memory within the framework of a generalized Langevin equation. Time correlated thermal noise with power-law decay is generated by a fractional differential equation, formulated using the Caputo fractional derivative with order parameter $\nu$. The effect of memory is calculated through the momentum correlation, the time evolution of the average squared momentum, the average squared displacement, and the average kinetic energy. The effect of memory is further studied for the higher normalised central moments of the heavy quark transverse-momentum distribution. The results indicate that time correlated thermal noise substantially influences heavy quark dynamics in the quark gluon plasma.
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All authors Jai Prakash, Ling Hai Li, Ying Shan Zhao, Yifeng Sun

High Energy Physics (Theory)

Classification of Pati–Salam Asymmetric $\mathbb{Z}_2 \times \mathbb{Z}_2$ Heterotic String Orbifolds

We develop a systematic classification of asymmetric $\mathbb{Z}_2$ orbifold actions in Pati-Salam heterotic string vacua constructed in the free fermionic formulation. Starting from symmetric $\mathbb{Z}_{2} \times \mathbb{Z}_{2}$ orbifold vacua with an $SO(10)$ GUT, we allow the Pati–Salam breaking vector to act asymmetrically on the internal degrees of freedom. The asymmetric orbifold action freezes geometrical moduli whilst inducing doublet–triplet splitting in the untwisted sector. Notably, this doublet-triplet splitting operates for any asymmetric action, including pure asymmetric shifts that preserve all geometric moduli, and is therefore independent of moduli stabilisation. Classifying the breaking vector according to its twist action, we find six inequivalent classes of geometric moduli spaces characterised by 12, 8, 4 or 0 real untwisted moduli. Through combining these asymmetric twists with all compatible asymmetric shifts, 24 inequivalent cases are identified and characterised by their residual moduli content and internal Narain lattice. For each case we construct representative basis sets admitting three chiral generations, providing the starting point for further classification within each class. We perform explicit GGSO (generalized Gliozzi-Scherk-Olive) phase enumerations in representative model classes with 12, 8, 4 and 0 moduli, classify the resulting $\mathcal{N}=1$ and $\mathcal{N}=0$ vacua according to phenomenological criteria and identify exophobic, phenomenologically viable models. We compute the partition function and corresponding one-loop vacuum energy at the free fermionic point in moduli space for each phenomenologically viable model across the four classes. As the number of geometrical moduli decreases, the number of distinct partition functions for these vacua collapses to a small number, reflecting a pronounced degeneracy under GGSO phase variations.
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High Energy Physics (Theory)

Rindler Physics with a UV Cutoff on the Lattice

We investigate quantum field theory in Rindler space with a UV cutoff by considering a free scalar field on a lattice in Rindler coordinates. We find that the Minkowski vacuum is not exactly thermal with respect to the local lattice Rindler Hamiltonian. Nevertheless, for observables sufficiently far from the horizon, the Wightman function and the Unruh–DeWitt detector response reproduce the expected thermal behavior in the continuum limit. Thus, the Unruh effect survives operationally, even though exact thermality is lost at the state level. We also show that the Rindler vacuum energy density reproduces the standard continuum behavior away from the horizon, while the UV singularity at the horizon is replaced by a stretched-horizon contribution. Furthermore, the retarded Green function exhibits a component reflected at the stretched horizon, implying that an ingoing wave packet is reflected at a proper distance of order the cutoff. This provides an effective brick-wall picture in the UV-regulated theory. Our analysis suggests that, once a cutoff is introduced, the global Minkowski description and the wedge description based on a local Rindler Hamiltonian are no longer equivalent at the operator level.
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High Energy Physics (Theory)

Integrals of motion in $WE_6$ CFT and the ODE/IM correspondence

We study the ODE/IM correspondence for the ordinary differential equation associated with the affine Lie algebra $E_6^{(1)}$. The WKB expansion of the solution of the ODE is performed by the diagonalization method, and the period integrals of the WKB coefficients along the Pochhammer contour are calculated. We also compute the integrals of motion on a cylinder in two-dimensional conformal field theory with W-symmetry associated with $E_6^{(1)}$. Their eigenvalues on the highest-weight state are shown to agree with the period integrals up to the sixth order.
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High Energy Physics (Theory)

Geometric Phases and Persistent Spin Currents from nonminimal couplings

We investigate a class of nonminimal derivative couplings between fermions and electromagnetic fields that generate Rashba-like spin–orbit interactions in one-dimensional quantum rings. Starting from a generalized Dirac Lagrangian containing two independent axial structures built from the field strength $F_{\mu\nu}$ and its dual $\tilde{F}_{\mu\nu}$, we perform a systematic nonrelativistic expansion and show that both couplings induce effective Hamiltonians of the form $\boldsymbol{\mathcal{F}}\cdot(\boldsymbol{p}\times\boldsymbol{\sigma})$. This reveals that magnetic as well as electric background fields may give rise to Rashba-type interactions, in contrast with standard condensed-matter scenarios. Before passing to the nonrelativistic limit, we analyze the relativistic content of the model in detail: the canonical structure of the deformed Dirac operator, the admissible background classes, the effective bilinear current, and the branch splitting of the relativistic dispersion relation, which constitutes the primary relativistic signature of the theory. We derive exact analytical energy levels and normalized eigenspinors for the resulting ring Hamiltonian, compute Aharonov–Anandan geometric phases, and analyze persistent spin currents together with the associated differential spin response $\mathcal{G}_s = \partial\mathcal{J}_\varphi^z/\partial\xi$. Exploiting the analytical control offered by the model, we derive the first systematic order-of-magnitude bounds on the two Lorentz-invariant couplings $\mathfrak{g}_1$ and $\mathfrak{g}_2$ from both spectroscopic and mesoscopic scenarios, identifying the experimental channels most sensitive to the new physics encoded in these operators. We discuss physical implications, signatures, and possible experimental analogs, and outline several promising directions involving disorder, noise, and nonequilibrium spin dynamics.
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High Energy Physics (Theory)

Linearized Q-Ball Perturbations

Linearized deformations of the thick-walled (low-amplitude) (1+1)-dimensional Q-ball may be decomposed into relativistic modes, which are roughly plane waves, and also long-wavelength corotating and counterrotating Floquet modes. Each mode oscillates at a pair of mirror frequencies which average to the Q-ball frequency. The corotating modes are those of a breather or oscillon plus a very loosely bound mode. The counterrotating modes are described by an irrational-level Pöschl-Teller potential, with two discrete modes which mix with their unbound mirrors, unbinding them and turning them into Feshbach-type quasinormal modes. Expanding to leading order in the Q-ball amplitude, we present all of these modes in closed form, except for the bound mode which does not exist at leading order.
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All authors Jarah Evslin, Hui Liu, Tomasz Romańczukiewicz, Yakov Shnir, Andrzej Wereszczyński, Piotr Ziobro

Wednesday 8 April

High Energy Physics (Theory) · Cross-listed from gr-qc

Does Gravity Render Probability Quasilocal?

We propose that probability in quantum theory, like energy in general relativity, acquires a fundamentally quasilocal character in curved spacetime. Interpreting Hermiticity as the symmetry associated with inner-product conservation, we show that gravitational boundaries and horizons convert global probability conservation into a flux balance law. The resulting quasilocal probability naturally induces effective non-Hermiticity for restricted observers while preserving global unitarity. We demonstrate this explicitly in Schwarzschild, Kerr and FLRW spacetimes and after this, we identify observational imprints in black hole ringdowns. Our results suggest that in quantum field theory on curved backgrounds, probability conservation is as geometrically conditioned as energy itself.
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High Energy Physics (Theory)

Gaussian pseudogauge invariant hydrodynamics with spin

Extending the Gaussian covariant hydrodynamics approach [1] using torsion as an auxiliary field we formulate a fluctuating hydrodynamics with spin which is covariant with respect to pseudo-gauge transformations as well as generally covariant with respect to foliations. This is done via the second order gravitational Ward identities, derived here in the torsionful case. This ensures that, while angular momentum observables depend covariantly on the pseudo-gauge, the dynamics is pseudo-gauge independent, thus clarifying the role of the pseudo-gauge in hydrodynamics with spin
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High Energy Physics (Theory)

Vacuum-induced current density from a magnetic flux threading a cosmic dispiration in $(D+1)$-dimensional spacetime

We investigate the vacuum-induced current density for a charged scalar field in a $(D+1)$-dimensional cosmic dispiration spacetime threaded by a magnetic flux. This background combines a cosmic string and a screw dislocation, yielding a nontrivial helical geometry. By constructing the normalized mode functions of the Klein–Gordon equation, we evaluate the Wightman function and obtain the vacuum expectation value of the current density. We show that, in addition to the azimuthal component describing a persistent current around the defect, a nonvanishing axial component is induced as a direct consequence of the helical structure of the spacetime. Both components are periodic functions of the magnetic flux, depending only on its fractional part, reflecting the Aharonov–Bohm nature of the effect. Closed expressions are obtained for both massive and massless fields in arbitrary dimensions. We demonstrate that the screw dislocation parameter plays a crucial role in the behavior of the induced currents, leading to the regularization of the axial component at the origin and controlling its magnitude. The asymptotic behavior of both components is analyzed in detail. Our results reduce to known expressions in the absence of the screw dislocation, providing a consistency check. In particular, we examine the physically relevant $(3+1)$-dimensional case, where numerical analysis reveals nontrivial features arising from the interplay between topology and gauge effects.
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High Energy Physics (Theory)

On the Uniqueness of Ghost-Free Multi-Gravity – II: Constraining antisymmetrised multi spin-2 interactions

So far, only a single theory of multiple spin-2 fields is known that features genuine multi-field interactions while remaining free of Boulware-Deser-type ghost instabilities. In this paper we show that this is the most general ghost-free multi spin-2 interaction type possible. We start with the general class of multivielbein interactions containing antisymmetrised products of vielbeins, considered earlier by Hinterbichler and Rosen. We formulate a necessary condition for these theories to be ghost-free. For two vielbeins the theory parameters remain unrestricted, reproducing the ghost-free bimetric theory. But for more than two vielbeins with genuine multi-field interactions, we show that the couplings are restricted precisely to yield the known ghost-free multivielbein theory, thus establishing its uniqueness. We also show that more general interactions, constructed using the ghost-free bimetric and multivielbein potentials as building blocks, satisfy the necessary ghost-free conditions provided the associated interaction graphs have a tree structure.
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High Energy Physics (Theory)

Compactifying the Sen Action: Six Dimensions

The Sen action for self-dual fields has been generalised by Hull to include two metrics which allows it to be defined on generic manifolds. In this paper we consider Kaluza-Klein compactifications of this action. The existence of two metrics presents novel challenges as there are two Kaluza-Klein towers of fields. We show that to find a consistent truncation one must include zero-modes associated to each of the two towers. Although this naively leads to a doubling of the massless degrees of freedom we show that on-shell this is not the case. We also discuss a deformation of the Sen action to include an additional form-field but which does not lead to new degrees of freedom on-shell but which arises naturally upon compactification.
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High Energy Physics (Theory) · Cross-listed from cond-mat.str-el

Fortuitous Universality of Bose-Kondo Impurities

We use the fuzzy-sphere approach to study the Bose-Kondo impurity problem, namely a spin-$S$ impurity coupled to the $(2+1)$-dimensional $O(3)$ Wilson-Fisher CFT (Heisenberg universality class). We demonstrate that for $S=1/2,1,3/2$ the impurity flows to a distinct stable interacting conformal defect for each $S$. Using large-scale exact diagonalization and density-matrix renormalization group methods, we observe integer-spaced defect spectrum consistent with defect conformal symmetry and compute several low-lying defect primary operators as well as the RG monotonic $g$-function. Our findings show that despite sharing the same symmetry and anomaly, Bose-Kondo impurities flow to distinct stable infrared conformal fixed points, which we refer to as fortuitous universality. We expect this fortuitous universality to persist for all $S$, extending to $S\rightarrow\infty$, with each spin-$S$ impurity flowing to its own stable infrared conformal fixed point.
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All authors Abhijat Sarma, Zheng Zhou, Ryan A. Lanzetta, Yin-Chen He

High Energy Physics (Theory) · Cross-listed from hep-ph

Forward trijet production in proton-nucleus collisions: gluon initiated channel

In this paper, we present results for the forward three-parton production differential cross section in the gluon-initiated channel in proton-nucleus collisions. This result is the leading-order contribution to forward trijet production and provides the real-emission building block required for the NLO dijet/dihadron cross section. The calculations are carried out within the Color Glass Condensate (CGC) effective theory, and in the dilute-dense approximation, using effective vertices for the quark and gluon propagators interacting with the small-$x$ background gluon field. We employ the covariant perturbation theory approach and disentangle the amplitudes into regular and instantaneous contributions. Our results are expressed as convolutions of multiparton color correlators of light-like Wilson lines and perturbative impact factors, organized in compact expressions in terms of the “bare" topologies of the contributing diagrams. The gluon-initiated channel receives contributions from a $q\bar{q}g$ and a $ggg$ final state. Interestingly, when considering the $ggg$ final state, we observe, for the first time, that the four-gluon vertex topology follows a structure similar to the instantaneous contributions. This observation suggests a simplification in the organization of multigluon CGC amplitudes and may prove useful for future one-loop calculations. Furthermore, when integrating (one of) the real gluon(s) in the final state, we identify that the rapidity divergence is absorbed into the real part of the JIMWLK evolution of the leading-order Wilson-line correlator. In addition, we isolate the divergences arising when the unobserved parton becomes collinear to one of the observed hadrons in the final state. These divergences are absorbed by renormalizing the initial-state parton distribution functions and final-state fragmentation functions, which are shown to obey DGLAP evolution.
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High Energy Physics (Theory) · Cross-listed from gr-qc

The fall and the rise of Weyl gauge theory

In 1918 Weyl introduced Weyl conformal geometry and its associated quadratic action which was the first gauge theory, of the Weyl group (of dilatations and Poincaré symmetry). The initial physical interpretation of his theory was however short-lived and led to the downfall of Weyl geometry as a physical theory. We review how this action was re-born into a physical Weyl quadratic gauge theory of gravity. This is the only (quadratic) gauge theory of a spacetime symmetry with a physical gauge boson, is Weyl anomaly-free, has exact geometric interpretation, with all scales of geometric origin, and generates Einstein-Hilbert action and a positive cosmological constant in its Stueckelberg broken phase. A more fundamental Weyl gauge theory is the Weyl-Dirac-Born-Infeld (WDBI) action of Weyl geometry, that is Weyl gauge invariant in arbitrary $d$ dimensions and that does not need a UV regulator (!), of which the (geometrically regularised) Weyl quadratic gauge theory is the leading order. For $d=4$ the WDBI action can include SM operators alongside gravitational terms into a unified description, both geometric and by the gauge principle, of SM and Einstein-Hilbert gravity, which are recovered in the leading order of this action.
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High Energy Physics (Theory)

Super-Grassmannians for $\mathcal{N}=2$ to $4$ SCFT$_3$: From AdS$_4$ Correlators to $\mathcal{N}=4$ SYM scattering Amplitudes

We construct a Super-Grassmannian for $n-$point functions in $\mathcal{N}=2$ to $4$ SCFT$_3$. The constraints imposed by super-conformal invariance and $R-$symmetry are completely manifest in this formalism through (operator-valued) delta functions. We test our formalism in $\mathcal{N}=2$ and $\mathcal{N}=4$ AdS$_4$ super Yang-Mills theories. In the $\mathcal{N}=2$ case, for instance, we reproduce the four-gluon correlator using the four-point scalar correlator as input. For $\mathcal{N}=4$, we construct the super-operator in two distinct ways. In one approach, the super-operator has a lowest component of spin zero and includes all states up to spin two. In the other approach, we build the super-operator in a CPT self-conjugate manner, which contains only operators with spin zero, spin half, and spin one mimicking flat space $\mathcal{N}=4$ SYM super-field constructions. The latter construction is particularly interesting, as it matches directly with the $\mathcal{N}=4$ SYM amplitudes in the flat space limit, thereby demonstrating the non-triviality and usefulness of our framework. It is interesting to note that the $R-$symmetry group enhances from $SO(\mathcal{N})$ to $SU(\mathcal{N})$ in the flat space limit.
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All authors Aswini Bala, Sachin Jain, Dhruva K.S., Adithya A Rao

High Energy Physics (Theory)

From Matrix Models to Gaussian Molecules and the Einstein-Hilbert Action

A matrix model on a D-dimensional Euclidean space is introduced as a generalization of random matrix models and as a non-perturbative definition of discretized closed string theory. The free energy of the matrix model is formally derived to all orders in string perturbation expansion and shown to be given in terms of invariant graph polynomials, whose coefficients enumerate ribbon graphs and are a refinement of the generalized Catalan numbers. The vacuum diagrams contributing to the free energy are found to be related to Gaussian molecules, known from the study of polymer structures. Coupling the matrix field to a curved background with Riemannian metric yields a non-perturbative definition of discretized string theory on this background. No on-shell condition for the metric is required to arrive at the free energy. Rather, it is shown that the free energy of the matrix model is the Einstein-Hilbert action with cosmological constant term. The gravitational and the cosmological constants are both formally determined to all orders in the string perturbation expansion. In fact, they are explicitly given by the expectation value of a particular graph invariant. Introducing a vector field, minimally coupled to a background gauge field, provides a discretized open-closed string theory, leading to the Yang-Mills action as well as intrinsic and extrinsic curvature terms.
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High Energy Physics (Theory)

Decoding multiway gravitational junctions in AdS in terms of holographic quantum maps

It has been shown that multiway junctions gluing $n$ copies of locally AdS$_3$ spacetimes ($n\geq 2$) can be described by $n-1$ strings obeying non-linear Nambu-Goto equations coupled by Monge-Ampère like terms. Here we study how such junctions along with their stringy degrees of freedom can be interpreted in terms of an interface between $n$ identical holographic conformal theories each defined on a semi-infinite line (wire). We study the gravitational scattering problem at the multiway junction, and show that at the linearized order the dual interfaces correspond to quantum maps which factorize into a product of a scattering matrix determined only by the tension of the dual junction and relative automorphisms of the Virasoro algebra governed by the $n-1$ stringy modes. Both of these are universal in the sense that they are independent of linear modifications of the background state. These generalize earlier results for the 2-way junctions implying that the dual interface is a tunable energy transmitter. We comment on understanding the quantum map corresponding to the full non-linear gravitational problem, and study Ward identities and unitarity bounds.
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All authors Avik Chakraborty, Tanay Kibe, Martín Molina, Ayan Mukhopadhyay, Giuseppe Policastro

High Energy Physics (Theory) · Cross-listed from hep-ph

Gauged Q-balls in flat potentials

Q-balls are large bound-state systems of scalar particles, described classically through localized solutions of the equations of motion. Promoting the required stabilizing U(1) symmetry to a gauge symmetry leads to gauged Q-balls, which cannot grow beyond some maximal size and charge on account of the repulsive gauge interactions. These gauged Q-balls have been studied extensively for scalar potentials that satisfy Coleman's thin-wall criterion; here, we explore gauged Q-balls in flat potentials, which often occur in supersymmetric models. Even though global Q-balls in flat potentials are qualitatively different from Coleman's Q-balls, we find that the gauged versions are remarkably similar. We provide analytic approximations for these solitons and compare to numerical solutions. In addition, we study Proca Q-balls, i.e. make the gauge bosons massive, which interpolates between the global and gauged cases.
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High Energy Physics (Theory)

Quantum Fluctuations and Newton-Cartan Geometry for Non-Relativistic de Sitter space

We study a non-relativistic realisation of two-dimensional de Sitter gravity both from its boundary and bulk description with the goal of learning about de Sitter space and paving the way for extending the holographic duality into a non-relativistic direction. On the boundary side, we analyse the Schwarzian-type boundary action associated with non-relativistic de Sitter gravity and evaluate its one-loop partition function in order to compute its quantum fluctuations. Rather than relying on the coadjoint-orbit construction, we derive the path integral measure directly from the action using the Ostrogradsky formalism. We find a temperature-dependent prefactor scaling as $T^2$, of which the power agrees with the counting of the four global symmetry generators present. On the bulk side, we construct the corresponding torsionless Newton-Cartan geometry and show that it satisfies the equations of motion of a non-relativistic JT-like action and uplift the geometry to a three-dimensional Lorentzian geometry.
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High Energy Physics (Theory)

The $\mathcal{N}=1$ Super-Grassmannian for CFT$_3$ and a Foray on AdS and Cosmological Correlators

We construct a Super-Grassmannian integral representation for $n-$point functions in $\mathcal{N}=1$ SCFT$_3$. In this formalism, conformal invariance, supersymmetry, and special superconformal invariance are implemented manifestly through (operator-valued) delta function constraints. An important feature of this framework is the fact that we obtain simple algebraic relations among component correlators, which enable us to determine any component correlator in terms of just one of the component correlators. In particular, this formalism enables us to construct (A)dS$_4$ boundary correlators with contact diagrams from those that receive contributions purely from particle exchanges. We illustrate this by determining the (A)dS$_4$ Yang-Mills gluon four-point function from its gluino counterpart. Further, we establish the flat-space limit in super-space, finding a perfect agreement with existing flat-space results.
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All authors Aswini Bala, Sachin Jain, Dhruva K.S., Adithya A Rao