The 100 most-cited articles in Journal of High Energy Physics, 2019

A bstract Bulk quantum fields are often said to contribute to the generalized entropy $$ \frac{A}{4{G}_N}+{S}_{\mathrm{bulk}} $$ A 4 G N + S bulk only at O (1). Nonetheless, in the context of evaporating black holes, O (1 /GN ) gradients in S bulk can arise due to large boosts, introducing a quantum extremal surface far from any classical extremal surface. We examine the effect of such bulk quantum effects on quantum extremal surfaces (QESs) and the resulting entanglement wedge in a simple two-boundary 2 d bulk system defined by Jackiw-Teitelboim gravity coupled to a 1+1 CFT. Turning on a coupling between one boundary and a further external auxiliary system which functions as a heat sink allows a two-sided otherwise-eternal black hole to evaporate on one side. We find the generalized entropy of the QES to behave as expected from general considerations of unitarity, and in particular that ingoing information disappears from the entanglement wedge after a scambling time $$ \frac{\beta }{2\pi}\log \varDelta S+O(1) $$ β 2 π log ΔS + O 1 in accord with expectations for holographic…

A bstract We present the results of a global analysis of the neutrino oscillation data available as of fall 2018 in the framework of three massive mixed neutrinos with the goal at determining the ranges of allowed values for the six relevant parameters. We describe the complementarity and quantify the tensions among the results of the different data samples contributing to the determination of each parameter. We also show how those vary when combining our global likelihood with the χ 2 map provided by Super-Kamiokande for their atmospheric neutrino data analysis in the same framework. The best fit of the analysis is for the normal mass ordering with inverted ordering being disfavoured with a Δ χ 2 = 4.7 (9.3) without (with) SK-atm. We find a preference for the second octant of θ 23 , disfavouring the first octant with Δ χ 2 = 4.4 (6.0) without (with) SK-atm. The best fit for the complex phase is δ CP = 215° with CP conservation being allowed at Δ χ 2 = 1.5 (1.8). As a byproduct we quantify the correlated ranges for the laboratory observables sensitive to the absolute neutrino mass…

Abstract We present a detailed analysis ofe+e−→π+π−data up to $$ \sqrt{s}=1 $$ s=1 GeV in the framework of dispersion relations. Starting from a family ofππ P-wave phase shifts, as derived from a previous Roy-equation analysis ofππscattering, we write down an extended Omnès representation of the pion vector form factor in terms of a few free parameters and study to which extent the modern high-statistics data sets can be described by the resulting fit function that follows from general principles of QCD. We find that statistically acceptable fits do become possible as soon as potential uncertainties in the energy calibration are taken into account, providing a strong cross check on the internal consistency of the data sets, but preferring a mass of theωmeson significantly lower than the current PDG average. In addition to a complete treatment of statistical and systematic errors propagated from the data, we perform a comprehensive analysis of the systematic errors in the dispersive representation and derive the consequences for the two-pion contribution to hadronic vacuum…

A bstract We present a formalism for computing classically measurable quantities directly from on-shell quantum scattering amplitudes. We discuss the ingredients needed for obtaining the classical result, and show how to set up the calculation to derive the result efficiently. We do this without specializing to a specific theory. We study in detail two examples in electrodynamics: the momentum transfer in spinless scattering to next-to-leading order, and the momentum radiated to leading order.

A bstract We describe a systematic framework for computing the conservative potential of a compact binary system using modern tools from scattering amplitudes and effective field theory. Our approach combines methods for integration and matching adapted from effective field theory, generalized unitarity, and the double-copy construction, which relates gravity integrands to simpler gauge-theory expressions. With these methods we derive the third post-Minkowskian correction to the conservative two-body Hamiltonian for spinless black holes. We describe in some detail various checks of our integration methods and the resulting Hamiltonian.

A bstract We consider topological defect lines (TDLs) in two-dimensional conformal field theories. Generalizing and encompassing both global symmetries and Verlinde lines, TDLs together with their attached defect operators provide models of fusion categories without braiding. We study the crossing relations of TDLs, discuss their relation to the ’t Hooft anomaly, and use them to constrain renormalization group flows to either conformal critical points or topological quantum field theories (TQFTs). We show that if certain non-invertible TDLs are preserved along a RG flow, then the vacuum cannot be a non-degenerate gapped state. For various massive flows, we determine the infrared TQFTs completely from the consideration of TDLs together with modular invariance.

Abstract The recently introduced swampland criterion for de Sitter [17] can be viewed as a (hierarchically large) bound on the smallness of the slow roll parameter 𝜖V. This leads us to consider the other slow roll parameter ηV more closely, and we are lead to conjecture that the bound is not necessarily on 𝜖V, but on slow roll itself. A natural refinement of the de Sitter swampland conjecture is therefore that slow roll is violated at $$ \mathcal{O} $$ O (1) in Planck units in any UV complete theory. A corollary is that 𝜖V need not necesarily be $$ \mathcal{O} $$ O (1), if $$ {\eta}_V\lesssim -\mathcal{O}(1) $$ η V ≲ − O 1 holds. We consider various tachyonic tree level constructions of de Sitter in IIA/IIB string theory (as well as closely related models of inflation), which superficially violate [17], and show that they are consistent with this refined version of the bound. The phrasing in terms of slow roll makes it plausible why both versions of the conjecture run into trouble when the number of e-folds during inflation is high. We speculate that one way to evade the bound…

Abstract We address the contribution of the 3π channel to hadronic vacuum polarization (HVP) using a dispersive representation of the e + e − → 3π amplitude. This channel gives the second-largest individual contribution to the total HVP integral in the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon (g − 2) μ , both to its absolute value and uncertainty. It is largely dominated by the narrow resonances ω and ϕ, but not to the extent that the off-peak regions were negligible, so that at the level of accuracy relevant for (g − 2) μ an analysis of the available data as model independent as possible becomes critical. Here, we provide such an analysis based on a global fit function using analyticity and unitarity of the underlying γ ∗ → 3π amplitude and its normalization from a chiral low-energy theorem, which, in particular, allows us to check the internal consistency of the various e + e − → 3π data sets. Overall, we obtain $$ {a}_{\mu}^{3\pi } $$ a μ 3 π |≤1.8 GeV = 46.2(6)(6) × 10−10 as our best estimate for the total 3π contribution consistent with all (low-energy) constraints from QCD. In…

A bstract We analyze four-dimensional quantum field theories with continuous 2-group global symmetries. At the level of their charges, such symmetries are identical to a product of continuous flavor or spacetime symmetries with a 1-form global symmetry U (1) B (1) , which arises from a conserved 2-form current J B (2) . Rather, 2-group symmetries are characterized by deformed current algebras, with quantized structure constants, which allow two flavor currents or stress tensors to fuse into J B (2) . This leads to unconventional Ward identities, which constrain the allowed patterns of spontaneous 2-group symmetry breaking and other aspects of the renormalization group flow. If J B (2) is coupled to a 2-form background gauge field B (2) , the 2-group current algebra modifies the behavior of B (2) under background gauge transformations. Its transformation rule takes the same form as in the Green-Schwarz mechanism, but only involves the background gauge or gravity fields that couple to the other 2-group currents. This makes it possible to partially cancel reducible ’t Hooft anomalies…

Abstract We review the Hopf algebra of the multiple polylogarithms and the symbol map, as well as the construction of single valued multiple polylogarithms and discuss an algorithm for finding fibration bases. We document how these algorithms are implemented in the Mathematica package PolyLogTools and show how it can be used to study the coproduct structure of polylogarithmic expressions and how to compute iterated parametric integrals over polylogarithmic expressions that show up in Feynman integal computations at low loop orders.

A bstract We study linearized stability in first-order relativistic viscous hydrodynamics in the most general frame. There is a region in the parameter space of transport coefficients where the perturbations of the equilibrium state are stable. This defines a class of stable frames, with the Landau-Lifshitz frame falling outside the class. The existence of stable frames suggests that viscous relativistic fluids may admit a sensible hydrodynamic description in terms of temperature, fluid velocity, and the chemical potential only, i.e. in terms of the same hydrodynamic variables as non-relativistic fluids. Alternatively, it suggests that the Israel-Stewart and similar constructions may be unnecessary for a sensible relativistic hydrodynamic theory.

Abstract We provide evidence that the classical scattering of two spinning black holes is controlled by the soft expansion of exchanged gravitons. We show how an exponentiation of Cachazo-Strominger soft factors, acting on massive higher-spin amplitudes, can be used to find spin contributions to the aligned-spin scattering angle, conjecturally extending previously known results to higher orders in spin at one-loop order. The extraction of the classical limit is accomplished via the on-shell leading-singularity method and using massive spinor-helicity variables. The three-point amplitude for arbitrary-spin massive particles minimally coupled to gravity is expressed in an exponential form, and in the infinite-spin limit it matches the effective stress-energy tensor of the linearized Kerr solution. A four-point gravitational Compton amplitude is obtained from an extrapolated soft theorem, equivalent to gluing two exponential three-point amplitudes, and becomes itself an exponential operator. The construction uses these amplitudes to: 1) recover the known tree-level scattering angle at…

Abstract Superstring theory on $$ {\mathrm{AdS}}_3 \times {S}^3\times {\mathbb{T}}^4 $$ AdS 3 × S 3 × T 4 with the smallest amount of NS-NS flux (“k = 1”) is shown to be dual to the spacetime CFT given by the large N limit of the free symmetric product orbifold Sym N $$ \left({\mathbb{T}}^4\right) $$ T 4 . To define the worldsheet theory at k = 1, we employ the hybrid formalism in which the AdS3 × S3 part is described by the $$ \mathfrak{p}\mathfrak{s}\mathfrak{u}{\left(1,1\Big|2\right)}_1 $$ p s u 1 , 1 | 2 1 WZW model (which is well defined). Unlike the case for k ≥ 2, it turns out that the string spectrum at k = 1 does not exhibit the long string continuum, and perfectly matches with the large N limit of the symmetric product. We also demonstrate that the fusion rules of the symmetric orbifold are reproduced from the worldsheet perspective. Our proposal therefore affords a tractable worldsheet description of a tensionless limit in string theory, for which the dual CFT is also explicitly known.

ABSTRACT We present a holographic derivation of the entropy of supersymmetric asymp­totically AdS 5 black holes. We define a BPS limit of black hole thermodynamics by first focussing on a supersymmetric family of complexified solutions and then reaching extremality. We show that in this limit the black hole entropy is the Legendre transform of the on-shell gravitational action with respect to three chemical potentials subject toa con­straint. This constraint follows from supersymmetry and regularity in the Euclidean bulk geometry. Further, we calculate, using localization, the exact partition function of the dual $$ \mathcal{N} $$ N = 1 SCFT on a twisted S 1 × S 3 with complexified chemical potentials obeying this constraint. This defines a generalization of the supersymmetric Casimir energy, whose Legendre transform at large N exactly reproduces the Bekenstein-Hawking entropy of the black hole.

Abstract We systematically analyze the operator content of unitary superconformal multiplets in d ≥ 3 spacetime dimensions. We present a simple, general, and efficient algorithm that generates all of these multiplets by correctly eliminating possible null states. The algorithm is conjectural, but passes a vast web of consistency checks. We apply it to tabulate a large variety of superconformal multiplets. In particular, we classify and construct all multiplets that contain conserved currents or free fields, which play an important role in superconformal field theories (SCFTs). Some currents that are allowed in conformal field theories cannot be embedded in superconformal multiplets, and hence they are absent in SCFTs. We use the structure of superconformal stress tensor multiplets to show that SCFTs with more than 16 Poincaré supercharges cannot arise in d ≥ 4, even when the corresponding superconformal algebras exist. We also show that such theories do arise in d = 3, but are necessarily free.

A bstract We provide results for the full set of form factors describing semileptonic B -meson transitions to pseudoscalar mesons π , K , $$ \overline{D} $$ D ¯ and vector mesons ρ , K ∗ , $$ {\overline{D}}^{\ast } $$ D ¯ ∗ . Our results are obtained within the framework of QCD Light-Cone Sum Rules with B -meson distribution amplitudes. We recalculate and confirm the results for the leading-twist two-particle contributions in the literature. Furthermore, we calculate and provide new expressions for the two-particle contributions up to twist four. Following new developments for the three-particle distribution amplitudes, we calculate and provide new results for the complete set of three-particle contributions up to twist four. The form factors are computed numerically at several phase space points using up-to-date input parameters, including correlations across phase space points and form factors. We use a model ansatz for all contributing B -meson distribution amplitudes that is self-consistent up to twist-four accuracy. We find that the higher-twist two-particle contributions have…

Abstract In this paper, we explore the physics of electromagnetically and gravitationally coupled massive higher spin states from the on-shell point of view. Starting with the three-point amplitude, we focus on the simplest amplitude characterized by matching to minimal coupling in the UV. In the IR, for charged states this leads to g = 2 for arbitrary spin, and the leading deformation corresponds to the anomalous magnetic dipole moment. We proceed to construct the (gravitational) Compton amplitude for generic spins via consistent factorization. We find that in gravitation couplings, the leading deformation leads to inconsistent factorization. This implies that for systems with Gauge2 = Gravity relations, such as perturbative string theory, all charged states must have g = 2. It is then natural to ask for generic spin, what is the theory that yields such minimal coupling. By matching to the one body effective action, we verify that for large spins the answer is Kerr black holes. This identification is then an on-shell avatar of the no- hair theorem. Finally using this identification…

A bstract Complex algebraic calculations can be performed by reconstructing analytic results from numerical evaluations over finite fields. We describe FiniteFlow, a framework for defining and executing numerical algorithms over finite fields and reconstructing multivariate rational functions. The framework employs computational graphs, known as dataflow graphs, to combine basic building blocks into complex algorithms. This allows to easily implement a wide range of methods over finite fields in high-level languages and computer algebra systems, without being concerned with the low-level details of the numerical implementation. This approach sidesteps the appearance of large intermediate expressions and can be massively parallelized. We present applications to the calculation of multi-loop scattering amplitudes, including the reduction via integration-by-parts identities to master integrals or special functions, the computation of differential equations for Feynman integrals, multi-loop integrand reduction, the decomposition of amplitudes into form factors, and the derivation of…

Abstract A key question for machine learning approaches in particle physics is how to best represent and learn from collider events. As an event is intrinsically a variable-length unordered set of particles, we build upon recent machine learning efforts to learn directly from sets of features or “point clouds”. Adapting and specializing the “Deep Sets” framework to particle physics, we introduce Energy Flow Networks, which respect infrared and collinear safety by construction. We also develop Particle Flow Networks, which allow for general energy dependence and the inclusion of additional particle-level information such as charge and flavor. These networks feature a per-particle internal (latent) representation, and summing over all particles yields an overall event-level latent representation. We show how this latent space decomposition unifies existing event representations based on detector images and radiation moments. To demonstrate the power and simplicity of this set-based approach, we apply these networks to the collider task of discriminating quark jets from gluon jets,…

A bstract In general quantum field theories (QFTs), ordinary (0-form) global symmetries and 1-form symmetries can combine into 2-group global symmetries. We describe this phenomenon in detail using the language of symmetry defects. We exhibit a simple procedure to determine the (possible) 2-group global symmetry of a given QFT, and provide a classification of the related ’t Hooft anomalies (for symmetries not acting on spacetime). We also describe how QFTs can be coupled to extrinsic backgrounds for symmetry groups that differ from the intrinsic symmetry acting faithfully on the theory. Finally, we provide a variety of examples, ranging from TQFTs (gapped systems) to gapless QFTs. Along the way, we stress that the “obstruction to symmetry fractionalization” discussed in some condensed matter literature is really an instance of 2-group global symmetry.

A bstract We generalize the $$ T\overline{T} $$ T T ¯ deformation of CFT 2 to higher-dimensional large- N CFTs, and show that in holographic theories, the resulting effective field theory matches semiclassical gravity in AdS with a finite radial cutoff. We also derive the deformation dual to arbitrary bulk matter theories. Generally, the deformations involve background fields as well as CFT operators. By keeping track of these background fields along the flow, we demonstrate how to match correlation functions on the two sides in some simple examples, as well as other observables.

A bstract We develop a general formalism for computing classical observables for relativistic scattering of spinning particles, directly from on-shell amplitudes. We then apply this formalism to minimally coupled Einstein-gravity amplitudes for the scattering of massive spin 1/2 and spin 1 particles with a massive scalar, constructed using the double copy. In doing so we reproduce recent results at first post-Minkowskian order for the scattering of spinning black holes, through quadrupolar order in the spin-multipole expansion.

Abstract We introduce the tools of intersection theory to the study of Feynman integrals, which allows for a new way of projecting integrals onto a basis. In order to illustrate this technique, we consider the Baikov representation of maximal cuts in arbitrary space-time dimension. We introduce a minimal basis of differential forms with logarithmic singularities on the boundaries of the corresponding integration cycles. We give an algorithm for computing a basis decomposition of an arbitrary maximal cut using so-calledintersection numbersand describe two alternative ways of computing them. Furthermore, we show how to obtain Pfaffian systems of differential equations for the basis integrals using the same technique. All the steps are illustrated on the example of a two-loop non-planar triangle diagram with a massive loop.

Abstract In this paper, we explore in detail the cosmological implications of an abelian L μ − L τ gauge extension of the Standard Model featuring a light and weakly coupled Z′. Such a scenario is motivated by the longstanding ∼ 4σ discrepancy between the measured and predicted values of the muon’s anomalous magnetic moment, (g − 2) μ , as well as the tension between late and early time determinations of the Hubble constant. If sufficiently light, the Z′ population will decay to neutrinos, increasing the overall energy density of radiation and altering the expansion history of the early universe. We identify two distinct regions of parameter space in this model in which the Hubble tension can be significantly relaxed. The first of these is the previously identified region in which a ∼ 10 − 20 MeV Z′ reaches equilibrium in the early universe and then decays, heating the neutrino population and delaying the process of neutrino decoupling. For a coupling of g μ − τ ≃ (3 − 8) × 10−4, such a particle can also explain the observed (g − 2) μ anomaly. In the second region, the Z′ is very…

Abstract We present a novel framework for carrying out global analyses of the Standard Model Effective Field Theory (SMEFT) at dimension-six: SMEFiT. This approach is based on the Monte Carlo replica method for deriving a faithful estimate of the experimental and theoretical uncertainties and enables one to construct the probability distribution in the space of the SMEFT degrees of freedom. As a proof of concept of the SMEFiT methodology, we present a first study of the constraints on the SMEFT provided by top quark production measurements from the LHC. Our analysis includes more than 30 independent measurements from 10 different processes at $$ \sqrt{s} $$ s = 8 and 13 TeV such as inclusive $$ t\overline{t} $$ t t ¯ and single-top production and the associated production of top quarks with weak vector bosons and the Higgs boson. State-of-the-art theoretical calculations are adopted both for the Standard Model and for the SMEFT contributions, where in the latter case NLO QCD corrections are included for the majority of processes. We derive bounds for the 34 degrees of freedom…

A bstract We study the quantum effects of Near-Extremal black holes near their horizons. The gravitational dynamics in such backgrounds are closely connected to a particle in AdS 2 with constant electric field. We use this picture to solve the theory exactly. We will give a formula to calculate all correlation functions with quantum gravity backreactions as well as the exact Wheeler-DeWitt wavefunction. Using the WdW wavefunction, we investigate the complexity growth in quantum gravity.

A bstract A study of the decays B s 0 → μ + μ − and B 0 → μ + μ − has been performed using 26.3 fb −1 of 13 TeV LHC proton-proton collision data collected with the ATLAS detector in 2015 and 2016. Since the detector resolution in μ + μ − invariant mass is comparable to the B s 0 - B 0 mass difference, a single fit determines the signal yields for both decay modes. This results in a measurement of the branching fraction $$ \mathrm{\mathcal{B}}\left({B}_s^0\to {\mu}^{+}{\mu}^{-}\right)=\left({3.2}_{-1.0}^{+1.1}\right)\times {10}^{-9} $$ ℬ B s 0 → μ + μ − = 3.2 − 1.0 + 1.1 × 10 − 9 and an upper limit $$ \mathrm{\mathcal{B}}\left({B}^0\to {\mu}^{+}{\mu}^{-}\right)<4.3\times {10}^{-10} $$ ℬ B 0 → μ + μ − < 4.3 × 10 − 10 at 95% confidence level. The result is combined with the Run 1 ATLAS result, yielding $$ \mathrm{\mathcal{B}}\left({B}_s^0\to {\mu}^{+}{\mu}^{-}\right)=\left({2.8}_{-0.7}^{+0.8}\right)\times {10}^{-9} $$ ℬ B s 0 → μ + μ − = 2.8 − 0.7 + 0.8 × 10 − 9 and $$ \mathrm{\mathcal{B}}\left({B}^0\to {\mu}^{+}{\mu}^{-}\right)<2.1\times {10}^{-10} $$ ℬ B 0 → μ + μ − < 2.1 × 10 − 10

Abstract The anomalies in the measurements of observables involving b → sμμ decays, namely R K , R K*, P 5 ′ , and B s ϕ , may be addressed by adding lepton-universality-violating new physics contributions to the effective operators $$ {\mathcal{O}}_{\mathcal{9}},{\mathcal{O}}_{10},{\mathcal{O}}_9^{\prime },{\mathcal{O}}_{10}^{\prime } $$ O 9 , O 10 , O 9 ′ , O 10 ′ . We analyze all the scenarios where the new physics contributes to a pair of these operators at a time. We perform a global fit to all relevant data in the b → s sector to estimate the corresponding new Wilson coefficients, $$ {\mathcal{O}}_9^{\mathrm{NP}},{\mathcal{O}}_{10}^{\mathrm{NP}},{\mathcal{O}}_9^{\prime },{\mathcal{O}}_{10}^{\prime } $$ O 9 N P , O 10 N P , O 9 ′ , O 10 ′ . In the light of the new data on R K , and R K*, presented in Moriond 2019, we find that the scenarios with new physics contributions to the $$ \left({\mathcal{O}}_9^{\mathrm{NP}},{\mathcal{O}}_9^{\prime}\right) $$ O 9 N P O 9 ′ or $$ \left({\mathcal{O}}_9^{\mathrm{NP}},{\mathcal{O}}_{10}^{\prime}\right) $$ O 9 N P O 10 ′ pair remain the most…

Abstract We compute the exact, all energy scale, 4-point function of the large N doublescaled SYK model, by using only combinatorial tools and relating the correlation functions to sums over chord diagrams. We apply the result to obtain corrections to the maximal Lyapunov exponent at low temperatures. We present the rules for the non-perturbative diagrammatic description of correlation functions of the entire model. The latter indicate that the model can be solved by a reduction of a quantum deformation of SL(2), that generalizes the Schwarzian to the complete range of energies.

A bstract We study operator complexity on various time scales with emphasis on those much larger than the scrambling period. We use, for systems with a large but finite number of degrees of freedom, the notion of K-complexity employed in [1] for infinite systems. We present evidence that K-complexity of ETH operators has indeed the character associated with the bulk time evolution of extremal volumes and actions. Namely, after a period of exponential growth during the scrambling period the K-complexity increases only linearly with time for exponentially long times in terms of the entropy, and it eventually saturates at a constant value also exponential in terms of the entropy. This constant value depends on the Hamiltonian and the operator but not on any extrinsic tolerance parameter. Thus K-complexity deserves to be an entry in the AdS/CFT dictionary. Invoking a concept of K-entropy and some numerical examples we also discuss the extent to which the long period of linear complexity growth entails an efficient randomization of operators.

A bstract If even a relatively small number of black holes were created in the early universe, they will constitute an increasingly large fraction of the total energy density as space expands. It is thus well-motivated to consider scenarios in which the early universe included an era in which primordial black holes dominated the total energy density. Within this context, we consider Hawking radiation as a mechanism to produce both dark radiation and dark matter. If the early universe included a black hole dominated era, we find that Hawking radiation will produce dark radiation at a level Δ N eff ∼ 0 . 03 − 0 . 2 for each light and decoupled species of spin 0, 1/2, or 1. This range is well suited to relax the tension between late and early-time Hubble determinations, and is within the reach of upcoming CMB experiments. The dark matter could also originate as Hawking radiation in a black hole dominated early universe, although such dark matter candidates must be very heavy ( m DM ≳ 10 11 GeV) if they are to avoid exceeding the measured abundance.

A bstract We provide a systematic treatment of the previously discovered power- enhanced QED corrections to the leptonic decay B q → μ + μ − ( q = d, s ) in the frame- work of soft-collinear effective theory (SCET). Employing two-step matching on SCETI and SCET II , and the respective renormalization group equations, we sum the leading- logarithmic QED corrections and the mixed QED-QCD corrections to all orders in the couplings for the matrix element of the semileptonic weak effective operator Q 9 . We pro- pose a treatment of the B -meson decay constant and light-cone distribution amplitude in the presence of process-specific QED corrections. Finally we include ultrasoft photon radiation and provide updated values of the non-radiative and radiative branching fractions of B q → μ + μ − decay that include the double-logarithmic QED and QCD corrections.

A bstract The formalism of combined finite modular and generalised CP (gCP) sym-metries for theories of flavour is developed. The corresponding consistency conditions for the two symmetry transformations acting on the modulus τ and on the matter fields are derived. The implications of gCP symmetry in theories of flavour based on modular invariance described by finite modular groups are illustrated with the example of a modular S 4 model of lepton flavour. Due to the addition of the gCP symmetry, viable modular models turn out to be more constrained, with the modulus τ being the only source of CP violation.

Abstract We provide universal expressions for the classical piece of the amplitude given by the graviton/photon exchange between massive particles of arbitrary spin, at both tree and one loop level. In the gravitational case this leads to higher order terms in the post-Newtonian expansion, which have been previously used in the binary inspiral problem. The expressions are obtained in terms of a contour integral that computes the Leading Singularity, which was recently shown to encode the relevant information up to one loop. The classical limit is performed along a holomorphic trajectory in the space of kinematics, such that the leading order is enough to extract arbitrarily high multipole corrections. These multipole interactions are given in terms of a recently proposed representation for massive particles of any spin by Arkani-Hamed et al. This explicitly shows universality of the multipole interactions in the effective potential with respect to the spin of the scattered particles. We perform the explicit match to standard EFT operators for S = $$ \frac{1}{2} $$ 1 2 and S = 1. As…

Abstract Anomalies can be elegantly analyzed by means of the Dai-Freed theorem. In this framework it is natural to consider a refinement of traditional anomaly cancellation conditions, which sometimes leads to nontrivial extra constraints in the fermion spectrum. We analyze these more refined anomaly cancellation conditions in a variety of theories of physical interest, including the Standard Model and the SU(5) and Spin(10) GUTs, which we find to be anomaly free. Turning to discrete symmetries, we find that baryon triality has a ℤ9 anomaly that only cancels if the number of generations is a multiple of 3. Assuming the existence of certain anomaly-free ℤ4 symmetry we relate the fact that there are 16 fermions per generation of the Standard model — including right-handed neutrinos — to anomalies under time-reversal of boundary states in four-dimensional topological superconductors. A similar relation exists for the MSSM, only this time involving the number of gauginos and Higgsinos, and it is non-trivially, and remarkably, satisfied for the SU(3) × SU(2) × U(1) gauge group with two…

A bstract The four-dimensional S -matrix is reconsidered as a correlator on the celestial sphere at null infinity. Asymptotic particle states can be characterized by the point at which they enter or exit the celestial sphere as well as their SL(2, ℂ) Lorentz quantum numbers: namely their conformal scaling dimension and spin $$ h\pm \overline{h} $$ h ± h ¯ instead of the energy and momentum. This characterization precludes the notion of a soft particle whose energy is taken to zero. We propose it should be replaced by the notion of a conformally soft particle with h = 0 or $$ \overline{h} $$ h ¯ = 0. For photons we explicitly construct conformally soft SL(2, ℂ) currents with dimensions (1, 0) and identify them with the generator of a U(1) Kac-Moody symmetry on the celestial sphere. For gravity the generator of celestial conformal symmetry is constructed from a (2, 0) SL(2, ℂ) primary wavefunction. Interestingly, BMS supertranslations are generated by a spin-one weight ( $$ \frac{3}{2} $$ 3 2 , $$ \frac{1}{2} $$ 1 2 ) operator, which nevertheless shares holomorphic characteristics of…

Abstract We compute the one-loop matching between the Standard Model Effective Field Theory and the low-energy effective field theory below the electroweak scale, where the heavy gauge bosons, the Higgs particle, and the top quark are integrated out. The complete set of matching equations is derived including effects up to dimension six in the power counting of both theories. We present the results for general flavor structures and include both the C P -even and C P -odd sectors. The matching equations express the masses, gauge couplings, as well as the coefficients of dipole, three-gluon, and four-fermion operators in the low-energy theory in terms of the parameters of the Standard Model Effective Field Theory. Using momentum insertion, we also obtain the matching for the C P -violating theta angles. Our results provide an ingredient for a model-independent analysis of constraints on physics beyond the Standard Model. They can be used for fixed- order calculations at one-loop accuracy and represent a first step towards a systematic next-to-leading-log analysis.

Abstract In the framework of the modular symmetry approach to lepton flavour, we consider a class of theories where matter superfields transform in representations of the finite modular group Γ5 ≃ A 5. We explicitly construct a basis for the 11 modular forms of weight 2 and level 5. We show how these forms arrange themselves into two triplets and a quintet of A 5. We also present multiplets of modular forms of higher weight. Finally, we provide an example of application of our results, constructing two models of neutrino masses and mixing based on the supersymmetric Weinberg operator.

Abstract The Swampland Distance Conjecture proposes that approaching infinite distances in field space an infinite tower of states becomes exponentially light. We study this conjecture for the complex structure moduli space of Calabi-Yau manifolds. In this context, we uncover significant structure within the proposal by showing that there is a rich spectrum of different infinite distance loci that can be classified by certain topological data derived from an associated discrete symmetry. We show how this data also determines the rules for how the different infinite distance loci can intersect and form an infinite distance network. We study the properties of the intersections in detail and, in particular, propose an identification of the infinite tower of states near such intersections in terms of what we term charge orbits. These orbits have the property that they are not completely local, but depend on data within a finite patch around the intersection, thereby forming an initial step towards understanding global aspects of the distance conjecture in field spaces. Our results…

Abstract Starting from the recently-discovered $$ \mathrm{T}\overline{\mathrm{T}} $$ T T ¯ -perturbed Lagrangians, we prove that the deformed solutions to the classical EoMs for bosonic field theories are equivalent to the unperturbed ones but for a specific field-dependent local change of coordinates. This surprising geometric outcome is fully consistent with the identification of $$ \mathrm{T}\overline{\mathrm{T}} $$ T T ¯ -deformed 2D quantum field theories as topological JT gravity coupled to generic matter fields. Although our conclusion is valid for generic interacting potentials, it first emerged from a detailed study of the sine-Gordon model and in particular from the fact that solitonic pseudo-spherical surfaces embedded in ℝ3 are left invariant by the deformation. Analytic and numerical results concerning the perturbation of specific sine-Gordon soliton solutions are presented.

A bstract Many motivated extensions of the Standard Model predict the existence of cosmic strings. Gravitational waves originating from the dynamics of the resulting cosmic string network have the ability to probe many otherwise inaccessible properties of the early universe. In this study we show how the spectrum of gravitational waves from a cosmic string network can be used to test the equation of state of the early universe prior to Big Bang Nucleosynthesis (BBN). We also demonstrate that current and planned gravitational wave detectors such as LIGO, LISA, DECIGO/BBO, and ET/CE have the potential to detect signals of a non-standard pre-BBN equation of state and evolution of the early universe (e.g., early non-standard matter domination or kination domination) or new degrees of freedom active in the early universe beyond the sensitivity of terrestrial collider experiments and cosmic microwave background measurements.

Abstract We investigate models of charged lepton and neutrino masses and lepton mixing based on broken modular symmetry. The matter fields in these models are assumed to transform in irreducible representations of the finite modular group Γ4 ≃ S 4. We analyse the minimal scenario in which the only source of symmetry breaking is the vacuum expectation value of the modulus field. In this scenario there is no need to introduce flavon fields. Using the basis for the lowest weight modular forms found earlier, we build minimal phenomenologically viable models in which the neutrino masses are generated via the type I seesaw mechanism. While successfully accommodating charged lepton masses, neutrino mixing angles and mass-squared differences, these models predict the values of the lightest neutrino mass (i.e., the absolute neutrino mass scale), of the Dirac and Majorana CP violation (CPV) phases, as well as specific correlations between the values of the atmospheric neutrino mixing parameter sin2 θ 23 and i) the Dirac CPV phase δ, ii) the sum of the neutrino masses, and iii) the effective…

Abstract The dynamics of a nearly-AdS2 spacetime with boundaries is reduced to that of two particles in the anti-de Sitter space. We determine the class of physically meaningful wavefunctions, and prescribe the statistical mechanics of a black hole. We demonstrate how wavefunctions for a two-sided black hole and a regularized notion of trace can be used to construct thermal partition functions, and more generally, arbitrary density matrices. We also obtain correlation functions of external operators.

Abstract The Swampland Distance Conjecture suggests that an infinite tower of modes becomes exponentially light when approaching a point that is at infinite proper distance in field space. In this paper we investigate this conjecture in the Kähler moduli spaces of Calabi-Yau threefold compactifications and further elucidate the proposal that the infinite tower of states is generated by the discrete symmetries associated to infinite distance points. In the large volume regime the infinite tower of states is generated by the action of the local monodromy matrices and encoded by an orbit of D-brane charges. We express these monodromy matrices in terms of the triple intersection numbers to classify the infinite distance points and construct the associated infinite charge orbits that become massless. We then turn to a detailed study of charge orbits in elliptically fibered Calabi-Yau threefolds. We argue that for these geometries the modular symmetry in the moduli space can be used to transfer the large volume orbits to the small elliptic fiber regime. The resulting orbits can be used in…

Abstract We extend the even weight modular forms of modular invariant approach to general integral weight modular forms. We find that the modular forms of integral weights and level N can be arranged into irreducible representations of the homogeneous finite modular group $$ {\Gamma}_N^{\prime } $$ Γ N ′ which is the double covering of Γ N . The lowest weight 1 modular forms of level 3 are constructed in terms of Dedekind eta-function, and they transform as a doublet of $$ {\Gamma}_3^{\prime } $$ Γ 3 ′ ≅ T′. The modular forms of weights 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 are presented. We build a model of lepton masses and mixing based on T′ modular symmetry.

Abstract We consider the simplest possibility for a model of particle dark matter in which dark matter has only gravitational interaction with the standard model sector. Even in such a case, it is known that the gravitational particle production in an expanding universe may lead to a correct relic abundance depending on the ination scale and the mass of dark matter particle. We provide a comprehensive and systematic analysis of the gravitational particle production of fermionic and vectorial dark matter, and emphasize that particles which are much heavier than the Hubble parameter but lighter than inaton can also be produced abundantly.

Abstract The $$ T\overline{T} $$ T T ¯ deformation of a conformal field theory has a dual description as a cutoff AdS 3 spacetime, at least at the level of pure 3d gravity. We generalize this deformation in such a way that it builds up a patch of bulk dS 3 spacetime instead. At each step along the trajectory in the space of 2d theories, the theory is deformed by a specific combination of $$ T\overline{T} $$ T T ¯ and the two-dimensional cosmological constant. This provides a concrete holographic dual for the warped throat on the gravity side of the dS/dS duality, at leading order in large central charge. We also analyze a sequence of excitations of this throat on both sides of the duality, as well as the entanglement entropy. Our results point toward a mechanism for obtaining de Sitter solutions starting from seed conformal field theories with AdS duals.

Abstract Any two dimensional quantum field theory that can be consistently defined on a torus is invariant under modular transformations. In this paper we study families of quantum field theories labeled by a dimensionful parameter t, that have the additional property that the energy of a state at finite t is a function only of t and of the energy and momentum of the corresponding state at t = 0, where the theory becomes conformal. We show that under this requirement, the partition sum of the theory at t = 0 uniquely determines the partition sum (and thus the spectrum) of the perturbed theory, to all orders in t, to be that of a $$ T\overline{T} $$ T T ¯ deformed CFT. Non-perturbatively, we find that for one sign of t (for which the energies are real) the partition sum is uniquely determined, while for the other sign we find non-perturbative ambiguities. We characterize these ambiguities and comment on their possible relations to holography.

Abstract We compute 1/λ corrections to the four-point functions of half-BPS operators in SU(N) $$ \mathcal{N} $$ N = 4 super-Yang-Mills theory at large N and large ’t Hooft coupling λ = $$ {g}_{\mathrm{YM}}^2N $$ g YM 2 N using two methods. Firstly, we relate integrals of these correlators to derivatives of the mass deformed S 4 free energy, which was computed at leading order in large N and to all orders in 1/λ using supersymmetric localization. Secondly, we use AdS/CFT to relate these 1/λ corrections to higher derivative corrections to supergravity for scattering amplitudes of Kaluza-Klein scalars in IIB string theory on AdS5 × S 5, which in the flat space limit are known from worldsheet calculations. These two methods match at the order corresponding to the tree level R 4 interaction in string theory, which provides a precise check of AdS/CFT beyond supergravity, and allow us to derive the holographic correlators to tree level D 4 R 4 order. Combined with constraints from [1], our results can be used to derive CFT data to one-loop D 4 R 4 order. Finally, we use AdS/CFT to fix…

A bstract Based on recent HQET sum rule and lattice calculations we present updated Standard Model predictions for the mass differences of neutral B mesons: $$ \varDelta {M}_s^{\mathrm{SM}}=\left({18.4}_{-1.2}^{+0.7}\right){\mathrm{ps}}^{-1} $$ Δ M s SM = 18.4 − 1.2 + 0.7 ps − 1 and $$ \varDelta {M}_d^{\mathrm{SM}}=\left({0.533}_{-0.036}^{+0.022}\right){\mathrm{ps}}^{-1} $$ Δ M d SM = 0.533 − 0.036 + 0.022 ps − 1 study their impact onnew physics models that address the present hints of anomalous data in b → s ℓℓ transitions. We also examine future prospects of further reducing the theory uncertainties and discuss the implications of a 2025 scenario with $$ \varDelta {M}_s^{\mathrm{SM}\;2025}=\left(18.4\pm 0.5\right) $$ Δ M s SM 2025 = 18.4 ± 0.5 ps − 1 . In particular, the latter yields upper bounds M Z ′ ≲ 9TeV and $$ {M}_{S_3}\lesssim 30\mathrm{TeV} $$ M S 3 ≲ 30 TeV for the minimal Z ′ and S 3 lepto-quark explanations of the b → s ℓℓ anomalies, respectively.

Abstract We explore the logarithmic terms in the soft theorem in four dimensions by analyzing classical scattering with generic incoming and outgoing states and one loop quantum scattering amplitudes. The classical and quantum results are consistent with each other. Although most of our analysis in quantum theory is carried out for one loop amplitudes in a theory of (charged) scalars interacting via gravitational and electromagnetic interactions, we expect the results to be valid more generally.

A bstract B decays proceeding via b → cℓν transitions with ℓ = e or μ are tree-level processes in the Standard Model. They are used to measure the CKM element V cb , as such forming an important ingredient in the determination of e.g. the unitarity triangle; hence the question to which extent they can be affected by new physics contributions is important, specifically given the long-standing tension between V cb determinations from inclusive and exclusive decays and the significant hints for lepton flavour universality violation in b → cτ ν and b → sℓℓ decays. We perform a comprehensive model-independent analysis of new physics in b → cℓν , considering all combinations of scalar, vector and tensor interactions occuring in single-mediator scenarios. We include for the first time differential distributions of B → D ∗ ℓν angular observables for this purpose. We show that these are valuable in constraining non-standard interactions. Specifically, the zero-recoil endpoint of the B → Dℓν spectrum is extremely sensitive to scalar currents, while the maximum-recoil endpoint of the B → D ∗…

Abstract Results are reported from a search for supersymmetric particles in the final state with multiple jets and large missing transverse momentum. The search uses a sample of proton-proton collisions at $$ \sqrt{s} $$ s = 13 TeV collected with the CMS detector in 2016–2018, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 137 fb −1, representing essentially the full LHC Run 2 data sample. The analysis is performed in a four-dimensional search region defined in terms of the number of jets, the number of tagged bottom quark jets, the scalar sum of jet transverse momenta, and the magnitude of the vector sum of jet transverse momenta. No significant excess in the event yield is observed relative to the expected background contributions from standard model processes. Limits on the pair production of gluinos and squarks are obtained in the framework of simplified models for supersymmetric particle production and decay processes. Assuming the lightest supersymmetric particle to be a neutralino, lower limits on the gluino mass as large as 2000 to 2310 GeV are obtained at 95% confidence…

A bstract We study correlators of four protected (half-BPS) operators in strongly coupled supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory. These are dual to tree-level supergravity amplitudes on AdS 5 ×S 5 for various spherical harmonics on the five-sphere. We use conformal field theory methods, in particular a recently obtained Lorentzian inversion formula, to analytically bootstrap these correlators. The extracted 1 /N 2 double-trace anomalous dimensions confirm a simple pattern recently conjectured by Aprile, Drummond, Heslop and Paul. We explain this pattern by an unexpected ten-dimensional conformal symmetry which appears to be enjoyed by tree-level supergravity (or a suitable subsector of it). The symmetry combines all spherical harmonics into a single ten-dimensional object, and yields compact expressions for the leading logarithmic part of any half-BPS correlator at each loop order.

A bstract We rewrite the Chern-Simons description of pure gravity on global AdS 3 and on Euclidean BTZ black holes as a quantum field theory on the AdS boundary. The resulting theory is (two copies of) the path integral quantization of a certain coadjoint orbit of the Virasoro group, and it should be regarded as the quantum field theory of the boundary gravitons. This theory respects all of the conformal field theory axioms except one: it is not modular invariant. The coupling constant is 1 /c with c the central charge, and perturbation theory in 1 /c encodes loop contributions in the gravity dual. The QFT is a theory of reparametrizations analogous to the Schwarzian description of nearly AdS 2 gravity, and has several features including: (i) it is ultraviolet-complete; (ii) the torus partition function is the vacuum Virasoro character, which is one-loop exact by a localization argument; (iii) it reduces to the Schwarzian theory upon compactification; (iv) it provides a powerful new tool for computing Virasoro blocks at large c via a diagrammatic expansion. We use the theory to…

A bstract We study analytic properties of the dispersion relations in classical hydrody- namics by treating them as Puiseux series in complex momentum. The radii of convergence of the series are determined by the critical points of the associated complex spectral curves. For theories that admit a dual gravitational description through holography, the critical points correspond to level-crossings in the quasinormal spectrum of the dual black hole. We illustrate these methods in N = 4 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory in 3+1 dimensions, in a holographic model with broken translation symmetry in 2+1 dimensions, and in con- formal field theory in 1+1 dimensions. We comment on the pole-skipping phenomenon in thermal correlation functions, and show that it is not specific to energy density correlations.

A bstract We formulate an effective field theory describing large mass scalars and fermions minimally coupled to gravity. The operators of this effective field theory are organized in powers of the transfer momentum divided by the mass of the matter field, an expansion which lends itself to the efficient extraction of classical contributions from loop amplitudes in both the post-Newtonian and post-Minkowskian regimes. We use this effective field theory to calculate the classical and leading quantum gravitational scattering amplitude of two heavy spin-1/2 particles at the second post-Minkowskian order.

A bstract In the modular symmetry approach to neutrino models, the flavour symmetry emerges as a finite subgroup Γ N of the modular symmetry, broken by the vacuum expec- tation value (VEV) of a modulus field τ . If the VEV of the modulus τ takes some special value, a residual subgroup of Γ N would be preserved. We derive the fixed points τ S = i , τ ST = ( − 1 + i $$ \sqrt{3} $$ 3 ) / 2, τ TS = (1 + i $$ \sqrt{3} $$ 3 ) / 2, τ T = i∞ in the fundamental domain which are in-variant under the modular transformations indicated. We then generalise these fixed points to τ f = γτ S , γτ ST , γτ TS and γτ T in the upper half complex plane, and show that it is suffi-cient to consider γ ∈ Γ N . Focussing on level N = 4, corresponding to the flavour group S 4 , we consider all the resulting triplet modular forms at these fixed points up to weight 6. We then apply the results to lepton mixing, with different residual subgroups in the charged lepton sector and each of the right-handed neutrinos sectors. In the minimal case of two right-handed neutrinos, we find three phenomenologically viable…

Abstract We present a comprehensive analysis of neutrino mass and lepton mixing in theories with A 4 modular symmetry, where the only flavon field is the single modulus field τ, and all masses and Yukawa couplings are modular forms. Similar to previous analyses, we discuss all the simplest neutrino sectors arising from both the Weinberg operator and the type I seesaw mechanism, with lepton doublets and right-handed neutrinos assumed to be triplets of A 4. Unlike previous analyses, we allow right-handed charged leptons to transform as all combinations of 1, 1′ and 1′′ representations of A 4, using the simplest different modular weights to break the degeneracy, leading to ten different charged lepton Yukawa matrices, instead of the usual one. This implies ten different Weinberg models and thirty different type I seesaw models, which we analyse in detail. We find that fourteen models for both NO and IO neutrino mass ordering can accommodate the data, as compared to one in previous analyses, providing many new possibilities.

Abstract The duality between color and kinematics was originally observed for purely adjoint massless gauge theories, and later found to hold even after introducing massive fermionic and scalar matter in arbitrary gauge-group representations. Such a generalization was critical for obtaining both loop amplitudes in pure Einstein gravity and realistic gravitational matter from the double copy. In this paper we elaborate on the double copy that yields amplitudes in gravitational theories coupled to flavored massive matter with spin, which is relevant to the problems of black-hole scattering and gravitational waves. Our construction benefits from making the little group explicit for the massive particles, as shown on lower-point examples. For concreteness, we focus on the double copy of QCD with massive quarks, for which we work out the gravitational Lagrangian up to quartic scalar and vector-scalar couplings. We find new gauge-invariant double-copy formulae for tree-level amplitudes with two distinct-flavor pairs of matter and any number of gravitons. These are similar to, but…

Abstract We elaborate on the recent idea of a direct decomposition of Feynman integrals onto a basis of master integrals on maximal cuts using intersection numbers. We begin by showing an application of the method to the derivation of contiguity relations for special functions, such as the Euler beta function, the Gauss 2 F 1 hypergeometric function, and the Appell F 1 function. Then, we apply the new method to decompose Feynman integrals whose maximal cuts admit 1-form integral representations, including examples that have from two to an arbitrary number of loops, and/or from zero to an arbitrary number of legs. Direct constructions of differential equations and dimensional recurrence relations for Feynman integrals are also discussed. We present two novel approaches to decomposition-by-intersections in cases where the maximal cuts admit a 2-form integral representation, with a view towards the extension of the formalism to n-form representations. The decomposition formulae computed through the use of intersection numbers are directly verified to agree with the ones obtained using…

A bstract We use the Einstein-Hilbert gravitational path integral to investigate gravita- tional entanglement at leading order O (1 /G ). We argue that semiclassical states prepared by a Euclidean path integral have the property that projecting them onto a subspace in which the Ryu-Takayanagi or Hubeny-Rangamani-Takayanagi surface has definite area gives a state with a flat entanglement spectrum at this order in gravitational perturbation theory. This means that the reduced density matrix can be approximated as proportional to the identity to the extent that its Renyi entropies Sn are independent of n at this order. The n -dependence of Sn in more general states then arises from sums over the RT/HRT- area, which are generally dominated by different values of this area for each n . This provides a simple picture of gravitational entanglement, bolsters the connection between holographic systems and tensor network models, clarifies the bulk interpretation of alge- braic centers which arise in the quantum error-correcting description of holography, and strengthens the connection between…

A bstract In many-body chaotic systems, the size of an operator generically grows in Heisenberg evolution, which can be measured by certain out-of-time-ordered four-point functions. However, these only provide a coarse probe of the full underlying operator growth structure. In this article we develop a methodology to derive the full growth structure of fermionic systems, that also naturally introduces the effect of finite temperature. We then apply our methodology to the SYK model, which features all-to-all q -body interactions. We derive the full operator growth structure in the large q limit at all temperatures. We see that its temperature dependence has a remarkably simple form consistent with the slowing down of scrambling as temperature is decreased. Furthermore, our finite-temperature scrambling results can be modeled by a modified epidemic model, where the thermal state serves as a vaccinated population, thereby slowing the overall rate of infection.

Abstract Machine learning techniques in particle physics are most powerful when they are trained directly on data, to avoid sensitivity to theoretical uncertainties or an underlying bias on the expected signal. To be able to train on data in searches for new physics, anomaly detection methods are imperative, which can be realised by an autoencoder acting as an unsupervised classifier. The last source of uncertainties affecting the classifier are then experimental uncertainties in the reconstruction of the final-state objects. To mitigate their effect on the classifier and to allow for a realistic assessment of the method, we propose to combine the autoencoder with an adversarial neural network to remove its sensitivity to the smearing of the final-state objects. We quantify its effect and show that one can achieve a robust anomaly detection in resonance-induced $$ t\overline{t} $$ t t ¯ final states.

A bstract We derive bounds on couplings in the standard model effective field theory (SMEFT) as a consequence of causality and the analytic structure of scattering amplitudes. In the SMEFT, there are 64 independent operators at mass dimension eight that are quartic in bosons (either Higgs or gauge fields) and that contain four derivatives and/or field strengths, including both CP-conserving and CP-violating operators. Using analytic dispersion relation arguments for two-to-two bosonic scattering amplitudes, we derive 27 independent bounds on the sign or magnitude of the couplings. We show that these bounds also follow as a consequence of causality of signal propagation in nonvacuum SM backgrounds. These bounds come in two qualitative forms: i) positivity of (various linear combinations of) couplings of CP-even operators and ii) upper bounds on the magnitude of CP-odd operators in terms of (products of) CP-even couplings. We exhibit various classes of example completions, which all satisfy our EFT bounds. These bounds have consequences for current and future particle physics…

A bstract We perform a general model-independent analysis of $$ b\to c\tau {\overline{\nu}}_{\tau } $$ b → cτ ν ¯ τ transitions, including measurements of ℛ D , ℛ D ∗ , their q 2 differential distributions, the recently measured longitudinal D * polarization $$ {F}_L^{D\ast } $$ F L D ∗ , and constraints from the $$ {B}_c\to \tau {\overline{\nu}}_{\tau } $$ B c → τ ν ¯ τ lifetime, each of which has significant impact on the fit. A global fit to a general set of Wilson coefficients of an effective low-energy Hamiltonian is presented, the solutions of which are interpreted in terms of hypothetical new-physics mediators. From the obtained results we predict selected $$ b\to c\tau {\overline{\nu}}_{\tau } $$ b → cτ ν ¯ τ observables, such as the baryonic transition $$ {\Lambda}_b\to {\Lambda}_c\tau {\overline{\nu}}_{\tau } $$ Λ b → Λ c τ ν ¯ τ , the ratio ℛ J / ψ , the forward-backward asymmetries $$ {\mathcal{A}}_{\mathrm{FB}}^{D\left(\ast \right)} $$ A FB D ∗ , the τ polarization asymmetries $$ {\mathcal{P}}_{\tau}^{D\left(\ast \right)} $$ P τ D ∗ , and the longitudinal D *…

Abstract We study the phenomenology of electric dipole moments (EDMs) induced in various scalar leptoquark models. We consider generic leptoquark couplings to quarks and leptons and match to Standard Model effective field theory. After evolving the resulting operators to low energies, we connect to EDM experiments by using up-to-date hadronic, nuclear, and atomic matrix elements. We show that current experimental limits set strong constraints on the possible CP-violating phases in leptoquark models. Depending on the quarks and leptons involved in the interaction, the existing searches for EDMs of leptons, nucleons, atoms, and molecules all play a role in constraining the CP-violating couplings. We discuss the impact of hadronic and nuclear uncertainties as well as the sensitivities that can be achieved with future EDM experiments. Finally, we study the impact of EDM constraints on a specific leptoquark model that can explain the recent B-physics anomalies.

Abstract We consider constraints on the S-matrix of any gapped, Lorentz invariant quantum field theory in 3+1 dimensions due to crossing symmetry, analyticity and unitarity. We extremize cubic couplings, quartic couplings and scattering lengths relevant for the elastic scattering amplitude of two identical scalar particles. In the cases where our results can be compared with the older S-matrix literature they are in excellent agreement. We also extremize a cubic coupling in 2+1 dimensions which we can directly compare to a universal bound for a QFT in AdS. This paper generalizes our previous 1+1 dimensional results of [1] and [2].

Abstract We discuss the classification of SPT phases in condensed matter systems. We review Kitaev’s argument that SPT phases are classified by a generalized cohomology theory, valued in the spectrum of gapped physical systems [20, 23]. We propose a concrete description of that spectrum and of the corresponding cohomology theory. We compare our proposal to pre-existing constructions in the literature.

Abstract We compute the most general leading-order correction to Kerr solution when the Einstein-Hilbert action is supplemented with higher-derivative terms, including the possibility of dynamical couplings controlled by scalars. The model we present depends on five parameters and it contains, as particular cases, Einstein-dilaton-Gauss-Bonnet gravity, dynamical Chern-Simons gravity and the effective action coming from Heterotic Superstring theory. By solving the corrected field equations, we find the modified Kerr metric that describes rotating black holes in these theories. We express the solution as a series in the spin parameter χ, and we show that including enough terms in the expansion we are able to describe black holes with large spin. For the computations in the text we use an expansion up to order χ 14, which is accurate for χ < 0.7, but we provide as well a Mathematica notebook that computes the solution at any given order. We study several properties of the corrected black holes, such as geometry of the horizon, ergosphere, light rings and scalar hair. Some of the…

Abstract The problems of neutrino masses, matter-antimatter asymmetry, and dark matter could be successfully addressed by postulating right-handed neutrinos with Majorana masses below the electroweak scale. In this work, leptonic decays of W bosons extracted from 32.9 fb −1 to 36.1 fb −1 of 13 TeV proton–proton collisions at the LHC are used to search for heavy neutral leptons (HNLs) that are produced through mixing with muon or electron neutrinos. The search is conducted using the ATLAS detector in both prompt and displaced leptonic decay signatures. The prompt signature requires three leptons produced at the interaction point (either μμe or eeμ) with a veto on same-flavour opposite-charge topologies. The displaced signature comprises a prompt muon from the W boson decay and the requirement of a dilepton vertex (either μμ or μe) displaced in the transverse plane by 4–300 mm from the interaction point. The search sets constraints on the HNL mixing to muon and electron neutrinos for HNL masses in the range 4.5–50 GeV.

A bstract The ACME collaboration has recently reported a new bound on the electric dipole moment (EDM) of the electron, | d e | < 1.1 × 10 −29 e · cm at 90% confidence level, reaching an unprecedented accuracy level. This can translate into new relevant constraints on theories beyond the SM laying at the TeV scale, even when they contribute to the electron EDM at the two-loop level. We use the EFT approach to classify these corrections, presenting the contributions to the anomalous dimension of the CP-violating dipole operators of the electron up to the two-loop level. Selection rules based on helicity and CP play an important role to simplify this analysis. We use this result to provide new bounds on BSM with leptoquarks, extra Higgs, or constraints in sectors of the MSSM and composite Higgs models. The new ACME bound pushes natural theories significantly more into fine-tune territory, unless they have a way to accidentally preserve CP.

Abstract We present a thorough investigation of the vector leptoquark hypothesis for a combined explanation of the B-physics anomalies. We analyze this hypothesis from a twofold perspective, taking into account recent results from B-physics observables and high-p T searches. First, using a simplified model, we determine the general conditions for a successful low-energy fit in presence of right-handed leptoquark couplings (neglected in previous analyses). Second, we show how these conditions, in particular a sizable 2-3 family mixing, can be achieved in a motivated ultraviolet completion. Our analysis reinforces the phenomenological success of the vector leptoquark hypothesis in addressing the anomalies, and its compatibility with motivated extensions of the Standard Model based on the idea of flavor non-universal gauge interactions. The implications of right-handed leptoquark couplings for a series of key low-energy observables, namely B s → ττ and τ → μ lepton flavor violating processes, both in τ and in B decays, are discussed in detail. The role of the ultraviolet completion in…

A bstract We introduce a class of Vertex Operator Algebras which arise at junctions of supersymmetric interfaces in $$ \mathcal{N} $$ N = 4 Super Yang Mills gauge theory. These vertex algebras satisfy non-trivial duality relations inherited from S-duality of the four-dimensional gauge theory. The gauge theory construction equips the vertex algebras with collections of modules labelled by supersymmetric interface line defects. We discuss in detail the simplest class of algebras Y L,M,N , which generalizes W N algebras. We uncover tantalizing relations between Y L,M,N , the topological vertex and the W 1+∞ algebra.

Abstract We compute the six-particle maximally-helicity-violating (MHV) and next-to-MHV (NMHV) amplitudes in planar maximally supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory through seven loops and six loops, respectively, as an application of the extended Steinmann relations and using the cosmic Galois coaction principle. Starting from a minimal space of functions constructed using these principles, we identify the amplitude by matching its symmetries and predicted behavior in various kinematic limits. Through five loops, the MHV and NMHV amplitudes are uniquely determined using only the multi-Regge and leading collinear limits. Beyond five loops, the MHV amplitude requires additional data from the kinematic expansion around the collinear limit, which we obtain from the Pentagon Operator Product Expansion, and in particular from its single-gluon bound state contribution. We study the MHV amplitude in the self-crossing limit, where its singular terms agree with previous predictions. Analyzing and plotting the amplitudes along various kinematical lines, we continue to find remarkable stability…

A bstract Conformal Carrollian groups are known to be isomorphic to Bondi-Metzner-Sachs (BMS) groups that arise as the asymptotic symmetries at the null boundary of Minkowski spacetime. The Carrollian algebra is obtained from the Poincare algebra by taking the speed of light to zero, and the conformal version similarly follows. In this paper, we construct explicit examples of Conformal Carrollian field theories as limits of relativistic conformal theories, which include Carrollian versions of scalars, fermions, electromagnetism, Yang-Mills theory and general gauge theories coupled to matter fields. Due to the isomorphism with BMS symmetries, these field theories form prototypical examples of holographic duals to gravitational theories in asymptotically flat spacetimes. The intricacies of the limiting procedure leads to a plethora of different Carrollian sectors in the gauge theories we consider. Concentrating on the equations of motion of these theories, we show that even in dimensions d = 4, there is an infinite enhancement of the underlying symmetry structure. Our analysis is…

Abstract We present a dedicated complementarity study of gravitational wave and collider measurements of the simplest extension of the Higgs sector: the singlet scalar augmented Standard Model. We study the following issues: (i) the electroweak phase transition patterns admitted by the model, and the proportion of parameter space for each pattern; (ii) the regions of parameter space that give detectable gravitational waves at future space-based detectors; and (iii) the current and future collider measurements of di-Higgs production, as well as searches for a heavy weak diboson resonance, and how these searches interplay with regions of parameter space that exhibit strong gravitational wave signals. We carefully investigate the behavior of the normalized energy released during the phase transition as a function of the model parameters, address subtle issues pertaining to the bubble wall velocity, and provide a description of different fluid velocity profiles. On the collider side, we identify the subset of points that are most promising in terms of di-Higgs and weak diboson…

Abstract We study the 6j symbol for the conformal group, and its appearance in three seemingly unrelated contexts: the SYK model, conformal representation theory, and perturbative amplitudes in AdS. The contribution of the planar Feynman diagrams to the three-point function of the bilinear singlets in SYK is shown to be a 6j symbol. We generalize the computation of these and other Feynman diagrams to d dimensions. The 6j symbol can be viewed as the crossing kernel for conformal partial waves, which may be computed using the Lorentzian inversion formula. We provide closed-form expressions for 6j symbols in d = 1, 2, 4. In AdS, we show that the 6j symbol is the Lorentzian inversion of a crossing-symmetric tree-level exchange amplitude, thus efficiently packaging the doubletrace OPE data. Finally, we consider one-loop diagrams in AdS with internal scalars and external spinning operators, and show that the triangle diagram is a 6j symbol, while one-loop n-gon diagrams are built out of 6j symbols.

Abstract We propose a variant of elliptic multiple polylogarithms that have at most logarithmic singularities in all variables and satisfy a differential equation without homogeneous term. We investigate several non-trivial elliptic two-loop Feynman integrals with up to three external legs and express them in terms of our functions. We observe that in all cases they evaluate to pure combinations of elliptic multiple polylogarithms of uniform weight. This is the first time that a notion of uniform weight is observed in the context of Feynman integrals that evaluate to elliptic polylogarithms.

Abstract Making use of a dimensionally-reduced effective theory at high temperature, we perform a nonperturbative study of the electroweak phase transition in the Two Higgs Doublet model. We focus on two phenomenologically allowed points in the parameter space, carrying out dynamical lattice simulations to determine the equilibrium properties of the transition. We discuss the shortcomings of conventional perturbative approaches based on the resummed effective potential — regarding the insufficient handling of infrared resummation but also the need to account for corrections beyond 1-loop order in the presence of large scalar couplings — and demonstrate that greater accuracy can be achieved with perturbative methods within the effective theory. We find that in the presence of very large scalar couplings, strong phase transitions cannot be reliably studied with any of the methods.

A bstract We study Renyi entropies S n in quantum error correcting codes and compare the answer to the cosmic brane prescription for computing $$ {\tilde{S}}_n\equiv {n}^2{\partial}_n\left(\frac{n-1}{n}{S}_n\right) $$ S ˜ n ≡ n 2 ∂ n n − 1 n S n . We find that general operator algebra codes have a similar, more general prescription. Notably, for the AdS/CFT code to match the specific cosmic brane prescription, the code must have maximal entanglement within eigenspaces of the area operator. This gives us an improved definition of the area operator, and establishes a stronger connection between the Ryu-Takayanagi area term and the edge modes in lattice gauge theory. We also propose a new interpretation of existing holographic tensor networks as area eigenstates instead of smooth geometries. This interpretation would explain why tensor networks have historically had trouble modeling the Renyi entropy spectrum of holographic CFTs, and it suggests a method to construct holographic networks with the correct spectrum.

A bstract We present the analytic form of all leading-color two-loop five-parton helicity amplitudes in QCD. The results are analytically reconstructed from exact numerical evaluations over finite fields. Combining a judicious choice of variables with a new approach to the treatment of particle states in D dimensions for the numerical evaluation of amplitudes, we obtain the analytic expressions with a modest computational effort. Their systematic simplification using multivariate partial-fraction decomposition leads to a particularly compact form. Our results provide all two-loop amplitudes required for the calculation of next-to-next-to-leading order QCD corrections to the production of three jets at hadron colliders in the leading-color approximation.

A bstract We propose an exact quantization of two-dimensional Jackiw-Teitelboim (JT) gravity by formulating the JT gravity theory as a 2D gauge theory placed in the presence of a loop defect. The gauge group is a certain central extension of PSL(2 , ℝ) by ℝ. We find that the exact partition function of our theory when placed on a Euclidean disk matches precisely the finite temperature partition function of the Schwarzian theory. We show that observables on both sides are also precisely matched: correlation functions of boundary- anchored Wilson lines in the bulk are given by those of bi-local operators in the Schwarzian theory. In the gravitational context, the Wilson lines are shown to be equivalent to the world-lines of massive particles in the metric formulation of JT gravity.

Abstract We consider the effects of a non-vanishing strange-quark mass in the determination of the full basis of dimension six matrix elements for B s mixing, in particular we get for the ratio of the V − A Bag parameter in the B s and B d system: $$ {\overline{B}}_{Q_1}^s/{\overline{B}}_{Q_1}^d={0.987}_{-0.009}^{+0.007} $$ B ¯ Q 1 s / B ¯ Q 1 d = 0.987 − 0.009 + 0.007 . Combining these results with the most recent lattice values for the ratio of decay constants $$ {f}_{B_s}/{f}_{B_d} $$ f B s / f B d we obtain the most precise determination of the ratio $$ \xi ={f}_{B_s}\sqrt{{\overline{B}}_{Q_1}^s}/{f}_{B_d}\sqrt{{\overline{B}}_{Q_1}^d}={1.2014}_{-0.0072}^{+0.0065} $$ ξ = f B s B ¯ Q 1 s / f B d B ¯ Q 1 d = 1.2014 − 0.0072 + 0.0065 in agreement with recent lattice determinations. We find ΔM s = (18.5 − 1.5 + 1.2 )ps− 1 and ΔM d = (0.547 − 0.046 + 0.035 )ps− 1 to be consistent with experiments at below one sigma. Assuming the validity of the SM, our calculation can be used to directly determine the ratio of CKM elements |V td /V ts | = 0.2045 − 0.0013 + 0.0012 , which is compatible…

Abstract We apply the recently developed positivity bounds for particles with spin, applied away from the forward limit, to the low energy effective theories of massive spin-1 and spin-2 theories. For spin-1 theories, we consider the generic Proca EFT which arises at low energies from a heavy Higgs mechanism, and the special case of a charged Galileon for which the EFT is reorganized by the Galileon symmetry. For spin-2, we consider generic Λ5 massive gravity theories and the special ‘ghost-free’ Λ3 theories. Remarkably we find that at the level of 2-2 scattering, the positivity bounds applied to Λ5 massive gravity theories, impose the special tunings which generate the Λ3 structure. For Λ3 massive gravity theories, the island of positivity derived in the forward limit appears relatively stable against further bounds.

Abstract We improve the precision of the topological susceptibility of QCD, and therefore of the QCD axion mass, by including O(α em) and NNLO corrections in the chiral expansion, which amount to 0.65(21)% and -0.71(29)% respectively. Both corrections are one order of magnitude smaller than the known NLO ones, confirming the very good convergence of the chiral expansion and its reliability. Using the latest estimates for the light quark masses the current uncertainty is dominated by the one of the low-energy constant ℓ 7. When combined with possible improvements on the light quark mass ratio and ℓ 7 from lattice QCD, our computation could allow to determine the QCD axion mass with per-mille accuracy.

Abstract We study a general class of functionals providing an analytic handle on the conformal bootstrap equations in one dimension. We explicitly identify the extremal functionals, corresponding to theories saturating conformal bootstrap bounds, in two regimes. The first corresponds to functionals that annihilate the generalized free fermion spectrum. In this case, we analytically find both OPE and gap maximization functionals proving the extremality of the generalized free fermion solution to crossing. Secondly, we consider a scaling limit where all conformal dimensions become large, equivalent to the large AdS radius limit of gapped theories in AdS 2. In this regime we demonstrate analytically that optimal bounds on OPE coefficients lead to extremal solutions to crossing arising from integrable field theories placed in large AdS 2. In the process, we uncover a close connection between asymptotic extremal functionals and S-matrices of integrable field theories in flat space and explain how 2D S-matrix bootstrap results can be derived from the 1D conformal bootstrap equations.…

Abstract We report on a new fully differential calculation of the next-to-next-to-leading-order (NNLO) QCD radiative corrections to the production of top-quark pairs at hadron colliders. The calculation is performed by using the q T subtraction formalism to handle and cancel infrared singularities in real and virtual contributions. The computation is implemented in the Matrix framework, thereby allowing us to efficiently compute arbitrary infrared-safe observables for stable top quarks. We present NNLO predictions for several single- and double-differential kinematical distributions in pp collisions at the centre-of-mass energy $$ \sqrt{s}=13 $$ s = 13 TeV, and we compare them with recent LHC data by the CMS collaboration.

Abstract In this note, we explore the possibility that certain high-energy holographic CFT states correspond to black hole microstates with a geometrical behind-the-horizon region, modelled by a portion of a second asymptotic region terminating at an end-of-the-world (ETW) brane. We study the time-dependent physics of this behind-the-horizon region, whose ETW boundary geometry takes the form of a closed FRW spacetime. We show that in many cases, this behind-the-horizon physics can be probed directly by looking at the time dependence of entanglement entropy for sufficiently large spatial CFT subsystems. We study in particular states defined via Euclidean evolution from conformal boundary states and give specific predictions for the behavior of the entanglement entropy in this case. We perform analogous calculations for the SYK model and find qualitative agreement with our expectations. We also calculate holographic complexity for the d = 2 ETW geometries, finding that complexity-action and complexity-volume proposals give the same linear growth at late times, but differ at early…

Abstract We present the extraction of unpolarized quark transverse momentum dependent parton distribution functions (TMDPDFs) and the non-perturbative part of TMD evolution kernel from the global analysis of Drell-Yan and Z-boson production data. The analysis is performed at the next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO) in perturbative QCD, using the ζ-prescription. The estimation of the error-propagation from the experimental uncertainties to non-perturbative function is made by the replica method. The importance of the inclusion of the precise LHC data and its influence on the determination of non-perturbative functions is discussed.

Abstract As a probe of circuit complexity in holographic field theories, we study sub-system analogues based on the entanglement wedge of the bulk quantities appearing in the “complexity = volume” and “complexity = action” conjectures. We calculate these quantities for one exterior region of an eternal static neutral or charged black hole in general dimensions, dual to a thermal state on one boundary with or without chemical potential respectively, as well as for a shock wave geometry. We then define several analogues of circuit complexity for mixed states, and use tensor networks to gain intuition about them. In the action approach, we find two possible cases depending on an ambiguity in the definition of the action associated with a counterterm. In one case, there is a promising qualitative match between the holographic action and what we call the purification complexity, the minimum number of gates required to prepare an arbitrary purification of the given mixed state. In the other case, the match is to what we call the basis complexity, the minimum number of gates required to…

Abstract We clarify the relationships between different approaches to the conformal bootstrap. A central role is played by the so-called extremal functionals. They are linear functionals acting on the crossing equation which are directly responsible for the optimal bounds of the numerical bootstrap. We explain in detail that the extremal functionals probe the Regge limit. We construct two complete sets of extremal functionals for the crossing equation specialized to $$ z=\overline{z} $$ z = z ¯ , associated to the generalized free boson and fermion theories. These functionals lead to non-perturbative sum rules on the CFT data which automatically incorporate Regge boundedness of physical correlators. The sum rules imply universal properties of the OPE at large Δ in every unitary solution of SL(2) crossing. In particular, we prove an upper and lower bound on a weighted sum of OPE coefficients present between consecutive generalized free field dimensions. The lower bound implies the ϕ × ϕ OPE must contain at least one primary in the interval [2Δ ϕ + 2n, 2Δ ϕ + 2n + 4] for all…

Abstract The double copy is a map from non-abelian gauge theories to gravity, that has been demonstrated both for scattering amplitudes and exact classical solutions. In this study, we reconsider the double copy for exact solutions that are self-dual in either the gauge or gravity theory. In this case, one may formulate a general double copy in terms of a certain differential operator, which generates the gauge and gravity solutions from a harmonic function residing in a biadjoint scalar theory. As an illustration, we examine the single copy of the well-known Eguchi-Hanson instanton in gravity. The gauge field thus obtained represents an abelian-like object whose field is dipole-like at large distances, and which has no magnetic or electric charge.

Abstract When the bulk geometry in AdS/CFT contains a black hole, boundary subregions may be sufficient to reconstruct certain bulk operators if and only if the black hole microstate is known, an example of state dependence. Reconstructions exist for any microstate, but no reconstruction works for all microstates. We refine this dichotomy, demonstrating that the same boundary operator can often be used for large subspaces of black hole microstates, corresponding to a constant fraction α of the black hole entropy. In the Schrödinger picture, the boundary subregion encodes the α-bits (a concept from quantum information) of a bulk region containing the black hole and bounded by extremal surfaces. These results have important consequences for the structure of AdS/CFT and for quantum information. Firstly, they imply that the bulk reconstruction is necessarily only approximate and allow us to place non-perturbative lower bounds on the error when doing so. Second, they provide a simple and tractable limit in which the entanglement wedge is state dependent, but in a highly controlled way.…

Abstract Using variational autoencoders trained on known physics processes, we develop a one-sided threshold test to isolate previously unseen processes as outlier events. Since the autoencoder training does not depend on any specific new physics signature, the proposed procedure doesn’t make specific assumptions on the nature of new physics. An event selection based on this algorithm would be complementary to classic LHC searches, typically based on model-dependent hypothesis testing. Such an algorithm would deliver a list of anomalous events, that the experimental collaborations could further scrutinize and even release as a catalog, similarly to what is typically done in other scientific domains. Event topologies repeating in this dataset could inspire new-physics model building and new experimental searches. Running in the trigger system of the LHC experiments, such an application could identify anomalous events that would be otherwise lost, extending the scientific reach of the LHC.

Abstract A rather minimal possibility is that dark matter consists of the gauge bosons of a spontaneously broken symmetry. Here we explore the possibility of detecting the gravitational waves produced by the phase transition associated with such breaking. Concretely, we focus on the scenario based on an SU(2) D group and argue that it is a case study for the sensitivity of future gravitational wave observatories to phase transitions associated with dark matter. This is because there are few parameters and those fixing the relic density also determine the effective potential establishing the strength of the phase transition. Particularly promising for LISA and even the Einstein Telescope is the super-cool dark matter regime, with DM masses above $$ \mathcal{O} $$ O (100) TeV, for which we find that the gravitational wave signal is notably strong. In our analysis, we include the effect of astrophysical foregrounds, which are often ignored in the context of phase transitions.

Abstract Strongly-coupled theories at the TeV can naturally drive a long period of supercooling in the early universe. Trapped into the deconfined phase, the universe could inflate and cool down till the temperature reaches the QCD strong scale. We show how at these low temperatures QCD effects are important and could trigger the exit from the long supercooling era. We also study the implications on relic abundances. In particular, the latent heat released at the end of supercooling could be the reason for the similarities between dark matter and baryon energy densities. The axion abundance could also be significantly affected, allowing for larger values of the axion decay constant. Finally, we discuss how a long supercooling epoch could lead to an enhanced gravitational wave signal.

A bstract We develop new techniques to compute five-point correlation functions from IIB supergravity on AdS5 × S 5 . Our methods rely entirely on symmetry and general con- sistency conditions, and eschew detailed knowledge of the supergravity effective action. We demonstrate our methods by computing the five-point function of the 20 ′ operator, which is the superconformal primary of the stress tensor multiplet. We also develop systematic methods to compute the five-point conformal blocks in series expansions. Using the ex- plicit expressions of the conformal blocks, we perform a Euclidean OPE analysis of the 20 ′ five-point function. We find expected agreement with non-renormalized quantities and also extract new CFT data at strong coupling.

Abstract Recent progress in applying machine learning for jet physics has been built upon an analogy between calorimeters and images. In this work, we present a novel class of recursive neural networks built instead upon an analogy between QCD and natural languages. In the analogy, four-momenta are like words and the clustering history of sequential recombination jet algorithms is like the parsing of a sentence. Our approach works directly with the four-momenta of a variable-length set of particles, and the jet-based tree structure varies on an event-by-event basis. Our experiments highlight the flexibility of our method for building task-specific jet embeddings and show that recursive architectures are significantly more accurate and data efficient than previous image-based networks. We extend the analogy from individual jets (sentences) to full events (paragraphs), and show for the first time an event-level classifier operating on all the stable particles produced in an LHC event.

Abstract We consider higher-order QCD corrections to Higgs boson production through gluon-gluon fusion in the large top quark mass limit in hadron collisions. We extend the transverse-momentum (q T ) subtraction method to next-to-next-to-next-to-leading order (N3LO) and combine it with the NNLO Higgs-plus-jet calculation to numerically compute differential infrared-safe observables at N3LO for Higgs boson production in gluon fusion. To cancel the infrared divergences, we exploit the universal behaviour of the associated q T distributions in the small-q T region. We document all the necessary ingredients of the transverse-momentum subtraction method up to N3LO. The missing third-order collinear functions, which contribute only at q T = 0, are approximated using a prescription which uses the known result for the total Higgs boson cross section at this order. As a first application of the third-order q T subtraction method, we present the N3LO rapidity distribution of the Higgs boson at the LHC.