[en] Integration by parts reduction is a standard component of most modern multi-loop calculations in quantum field theory. We present a novel strategy constructed to overcome the limitations of currently available reduction programs based on Laporta's algorithm. The key idea is to construct algebraic identities from numerical samples obtained from reductions over finite fields. We expect the method to be highly amenable to parallelization, show a low memory footprint during the reduction step, and allow for significantly better run-times

[en] We develop a general framework for the evaluation of d-dimensional cut Feynman integrals based on the Baikov-Lee representation of purely-virtual Feynman integrals. We implement the generalized Cutkosky cutting rule using Cauchy’s residue theorem and identify a set of constraints which determine the integration domain. The method applies equally well to Feynman integrals with a unitarity cut in a single kinematic channel and to maximally-cut Feynman integrals. Our cut Baikov-Lee representation reproduces the expected relation between cuts and discontinuities in a given kinematic channel and furthermore makes the dependence on the kinematic variables manifest from the beginning. By combining the Baikov-Lee representation of maximally-cut Feynman integrals and the properties of periods of algebraic curves, we are able to obtain complete solution sets for the homogeneous differential equations satisfied by Feynman integrals which go beyond multiple polylogarithms. We apply our formalism to the direct evaluation of a number of interesting cut Feynman integrals.

[en] The precise form of the multi-Regge asymptotics of the two-loop six-point MHV amplitude in N = 4 Super-Yang-Mills theory has been a subject of recent controversy. In this paper we utilize the amplitude/Wilson loop correspondence to obtain precise numerical results for the imaginary part of these asymptotics. The region of phase-space that we consider is interesting because it allowed Bartels, Lipatov, and Sabio Vera to determine that the two-loop six-point MHV amplitude is not fixed by the BDS ansatz. They proceeded by working in the framework of a high energy effective action, thus side-stepping the need for an arduous two-loop calculation. Our numerical results are consistent with the predictions of Bartels, Lipatov, and Sabio Vera for the leading-log asymptotics.

[en] We present the complete set of planar master integrals relevant to the calculation of three-point functions in four-loop massless Quantum Chromodynamics. Employing direct parametric integrations for a basis of finite integrals, we give analytic results for the Laurent expansion of conventional integrals in the parameter of dimensional regularization through to terms of weight eight.

[en] In this work, we complete the calculation of the soft part of the two-loop integrated jet thrust distribution in e"+e"− annihilation. This jet mass observable is based on the thrust cone jet algorithm, which involves a veto scale for out-of-jet radiation. The previously uncomputed part of our result depends in a complicated way on the jet cone size, r, and at intermediate stages of the calculation we actually encounter a new class of multiple polylogarithms. We employ an extension of the coproduct calculus to systematically exploit functional relations and represent our results concisely. In contrast to the individual contributions, the sum of all global terms can be expressed in terms of classical polylogarithms. Our explicit two-loop calculation enables us to clarify the small r picture discussed in earlier work. In particular, we show that the resummation of the logarithms of r that appear in the previously uncomputed part of the two-loop integrated jet thrust distribution is inextricably linked to the resummation of the non-global logarithms. Furthermore, we find that the logarithms of r which cannot be absorbed into the non-global logarithms in the way advocated in earlier work have coefficients fixed by the two-loop cusp anomalous dimension. We also show that in many cases one can straightforwardly predict potentially large logarithmic contributions to the integrated jet thrust distribution at L loops by making use of analogous contributions to the simpler integrated hemisphere soft function

[en] We study a recently-proposed approach to the numerical evaluation of multi-loop Feynman integrals using available sector decomposition programs. As our main example, we consider the two-loop integrals for the αα_s corrections to Drell-Yan lepton production with up to one massive vector boson in physical kinematics. As a reference, we evaluate these planar and non-planar integrals by the method of differential equations through to weight five. Choosing a basis of finite integrals for the numerical evaluation with SecDec 3 leads to tremendous performance improvements and renders the otherwise problematic seven-line topologies numerically accessible. As another example, basis integrals for massless QCD three loop form factors are evaluated with FIESTA 4. Here, employing a basis of finite integrals results in an overall speedup of more than an order of magnitude.

[en] The hemisphere soft function is calculated to order α_s². This is the first multiscale soft function calculated to two loops. The renormalization scale dependence of the result agrees exactly with the prediction from effective field theory. This fixes the unknown coefficients of the singular parts of the two-loop thrust and heavy-jet mass distributions. There are four such coefficients, for 2 event shapes and 2 color structures, which are shown to be in excellent agreement with previous numerical extraction. The asymptotic behavior of the soft function has double logs in the C_FC_A color structure, which agree with nonglobal log calculations, but also has subleading single logs for both the C_FC_A and C_FT_Fn_f color structures. The general form of the soft function is complicated, does not factorize in a simple way, and disagrees with the Hoang-Kluth ansatz. The exact hemisphere soft function will remove one source of uncertainty on the α_s fits from e⁺e^- event shapes.

[en] We calculate the collinear anomalous dimensions in massless four-loop QCD and $\mathcal{N}=4$ supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory from the infrared poles of vertex form factors. We give very precise numerical approximations and a conjecture for the complete analytic results in both models we consider.

[en] We present a new method for the decomposition of multi-loop Euclidean Feynman integrals into quasi-finite Feynman integrals. These are defined in shifted dimensions with higher powers of the propagators, make explicit both infrared and ultraviolet divergences, and allow for an immediate and trivial expansion in the parameter of dimensional regularization. Our approach avoids the introduction of spurious structures and thereby leaves integrals particularly accessible to direct analytical integration techniques. Alternatively, the resulting convergent Feynman parameter integrals may be evaluated numerically. Our approach is guided by previous work by the second author but overcomes practical limitations of the original procedure by employing integration by parts reduction.

[en] We present analytical results for all master integrals for massless three-point functions, with one off-shell leg, at four loops. Our solutions were obtained using differential equations and direct integration techniques. We review the methods and provide additional details.