Gravity, twistors and the MHV formalism

Graviton scattering on anti-self-dual backgrounds with ideas

from twistor-string theory
L.J.Mason
The Mathematical Institute, Oxford
lmason@maths.ox.ac.uk
LPTHE Jussieu Meeting
Paris, December 13 2008
Based on hep-th/0808.3907, joint work with Dave Skinner (also
0706.1941 joint with Martin Wolf).
Gravitational perturbation theory
Consider (M
4
, g) with Einstein Hilbert action
_
M
4
Rd
g
.
Feynman diagrams for gravity are very complicated.
non-polynomial action ; vertices, gauge
freedom/xing ;many many diagrams.
DeWitts 4 particle tree-level amplitude was a
computational tour-de-force.
But recently, hidden structures have been found:
Cachazo, Svrcek & Witten used Twistor-string theory ;
MHV diagram formalism for Yang-Mills & conformal gravity.
Boels, M. & Skinner constructed twistor actions for YM and
conformal gravity (cf also Gorsky, Rosly, Selivanov,
Manseld).
Is there a similar story for Einstein Gravity?
Long term aim: reverse engineer twistor-string theory for gravity
(Abou-Zeid, Hull & M hep-th/0606272, probably self-dual, Nair).
Gravitational perturbation theory
Consider (M
4
, g) with Einstein Hilbert action
_
M
4
Rd
g
.
Feynman diagrams for gravity are very complicated.
non-polynomial action ; vertices, gauge
freedom/xing ;many many diagrams.
DeWitts 4 particle tree-level amplitude was a
computational tour-de-force.
But recently, hidden structures have been found:
Cachazo, Svrcek & Witten used Twistor-string theory ;
MHV diagram formalism for Yang-Mills & conformal gravity.
Boels, M. & Skinner constructed twistor actions for YM and
conformal gravity (cf also Gorsky, Rosly, Selivanov,
Manseld).
Is there a similar story for Einstein Gravity?
Long term aim: reverse engineer twistor-string theory for gravity
(Abou-Zeid, Hull & M hep-th/0606272, probably self-dual, Nair).
Twistor actions
hep-th/0507269, 0604040, 0702035
For YM and conformal gravity can write action as
S
Full
= S
ASD
+ S
MHV
S
ASD
contains kinetic terms & interactions of ASD sector,
S
MHV
contains remaining interactions of full theory.
We reformulate on twistor space where ASD sector is of
Chern-Simons type (reecting complete integrability).
Two special gauges
1. leads directly to space-time formulation,
2. leads to MHV formalism as Feynman rules.
axial on twistor space, not accessible from space-time.
It linearizes the ASD sector, reducing S
ASD
to kinetic terms;
realizes complete integrability of ASD sector.
S
MHV
= generating function for MHV amplitudes.
Spinor helicity formalism
Momentum eigenstates have P
2
= 0. In spinors ;
p
AA

=
1

2
_
P
0
+ P
3
P
1
+ iP
2
P
1
iP
2
P
0
P
3
_
A=0,1, A

=0

,1

P
a
P
a
= det P
AA

so P
2
= 0 gives P
AA

= p
A
p
A

.
Linear gravity represented by Weyl tensor decomposes
Weyl = Weyl
+
Weyl

= (+) helicity () helicity.

Polarization information phase of p
A
i.e. () helicity
Weyl spinor:

ABCD
(x) = e
iPx
p
A
p
B
p
C
p
D
.
Scattering amplitudes are functions of incoming/outgoing
momentum spinors.
Maximal Helicity Violating (MHV) amplitudes for gravity
If all particles in a scattering process are helicity, or just
one is +, the tree-level amplitudes vanish.
The rst nontrivial MHV amplitudes is + + :
M(1
+
, 2

, 3

, . . . , n1

, n
+
) =
4
(

i
P
i
)
[1n]
8
[1n 1][n 1n][n 1]
_
1

n
i =1
[i i + 1]
n1

k=2
k[P
k+1
+ + P
n1
[n]
[kn]
+
(2,...,n2)
_
.
where 1 2) := p
1A
p
A
2
, [1 2] := p
1A
p
A

2
, 1[2[3] = p
1A
P
AA

2
p
3A
.
Berends, Giele & Kuijf (1988) using Kawai Llewellyn Tye
string theory relations between gravity and Yang-Mills.
MHV formalism
Bjerrum-Bohr et. al. (2006) argue that all gravity amplitudes are
generated by MHV vertices and scalar propagators.
Uses recursion relations and asymptotic properties of
amplitudes.
Dramatic simplication; impossible to see from space-time
action.
Proof is controversial & breaks down at 12 points, Elvang &
Freedman.
Objective of this talk: To show how this structure might arise
from a twistor formulation of gravity.
(Work with D.Skinner).
A space-time approach to MHV amplitudes
ASD gravity: Complexify space-time, and consider equations
Ric = Weyl
+
= 0, Weyl

,= 0.
Nonlinear version of helicity eld, Nonlinear graviton.
Newman, Penrose, Plebanski showed these equations to
be completely integrable using twistor theory and H-space.
Complete integrability of ASD eqs ;vanishing of . . .
amplitude and +. . . amplitude.
Can we expand full theory about its ASD sector?
Chiral action for expansion about ASD sector
Abou-Zeid, Hull hep-th/0511189
Use Plebanski-Palatini formulation with variables (on M
4
):
e
AA

, tetrad of 1-forms s.t.

ds
2
= e
AA

e
BB

AB

B
,
AB
=
BA
,
01
= 1.

A

B
=
(A

)
the + spin connection 1-forms.
Action
S =
_
M

_
d
A

B
+
2

_
,
where
A

= e
(A

A
e
B

)A
.
Field equations
d
A

+2
2

(A

)C

= 0,
_
d
A

B
+
2

(A

)C

_
e
AA

= 0.

2

B
= primed spin connection 1-form, Ricci= 0.
The ASD sector and perturbations around it
ASD sector: Set = 0 ;eld equations
d
A

= 0 metric is ASD. and

d
A

B
e
AA

= 0, d
A

B
=
A

D

C

and
A

D
is linearized SD Weyl spinor on ASD background.
Linearized gravitational perturbations:
For e
AA

= h
AA

on the ASD background, dene

A

B
(h) by
d(h
A(A

e
B

)
A
) + 2
(A

)C

= 0
and then
A

B
satises d
A

B
e
AB

= 0.
The ASD sector and perturbations around it
ASD sector: Set = 0 ;eld equations
d
A

= 0 metric is ASD. and

d
A

B
e
AA

= 0, d
A

B
=
A

D

C

and
A

D
is linearized SD Weyl spinor on ASD background.
Linearized gravitational perturbations:
For e
AA

= h
AA

on the ASD background, dene

A

B
(h) by
d(h
A(A

e
B

)
A
) + 2
(A

)C

= 0
and then
A

B
satises d
A

B
e
AB

= 0.
Background eld formula for MHV amplitudes
Dene ASD metric perturbations to be:
V

= h
AA

[
A

B
(h) = 0.
SD perturbations are not well-dened as
ABCD
= 0 is not
diffeomorphism invariant, but, can dene
V
+
=
A

B
[ d
A

B
e
AA

= 0.
So the space V of gravitational perturbations decomposes
0 V

V V
+
0.
MHV scattering arises from extra term in full action
M(1+, 2+, e

) =
_
M

1A

C

C

2B

.
and obstruct the splitting V = V
+
V

.
Normal MHV amplitude arises from ASD nonlinear
superposition of plane waves M, e
AA

, background
coupled plane waves
1
and
2
evaluated in integral.
Twistor theory & the nonlinear graviton
Flat correspondence:
Complex space-time M = C
4
, coords x
AA

,
Twistor space T = C
4
, coords Z

= (
A
,
A
), =(A,A

).
Projective twistors: PT = T 0/Z Z, C

= CP
3
.
PT

= Z PT[
A
,= 0, for nite space-time.
Incidence relation

A
= ix
AA

A
.
Point x M L
x
= CP
1
PT, hgs coords
A
.
Theorem (Penrose, 1976)
_
Deformations of complex
structure, PT

;PT
_
11

_
_
_
anti-self-dual deforma-
tions of conformal struc-
ture (M, ) ;(M, [g]).
_
_
_
For Ricci-at g [g], PT must have bration p : PT CP
1
and holomorphic symplectic form on bres valued in p

O(2).
Twistor theory & the nonlinear graviton
Flat correspondence:
Complex space-time M = C
4
, coords x
AA

,
Twistor space T = C
4
, coords Z

= (
A
,
A
), =(A,A

).
Projective twistors: PT = T 0/Z Z, C

= CP
3
.
PT

= Z PT[
A
,= 0, for nite space-time.
Incidence relation

A
= ix
AA

A
.
Point x M L
x
= CP
1
PT, hgs coords
A
.
Theorem (Penrose, 1976)
_
Deformations of complex
structure, PT

;PT
_
11

_
_
_
anti-self-dual deforma-
tions of conformal struc-
ture (M, ) ;(M, [g]).
_
_
_
For Ricci-at g [g], PT must have bration p : PT CP
1
and holomorphic symplectic form on bres valued in p

O(2).
Twistor theory & the nonlinear graviton
Flat correspondence:
Complex space-time M = C
4
, coords x
AA

,
Twistor space T = C
4
, coords Z

= (
A
,
A
), =(A,A

).
Projective twistors: PT = T 0/Z Z, C

= CP
3
.
PT

= Z PT[
A
,= 0, for nite space-time.
Incidence relation

A
= ix
AA

A
.
Point x M L
x
= CP
1
PT, hgs coords
A
.
Theorem (Penrose, 1976)
_
Deformations of complex
structure, PT

;PT
_
11

_
_
_
anti-self-dual deforma-
tions of conformal struc-
ture (M, ) ;(M, [g]).
_
_
_
For Ricci-at g [g], PT must have bration p : PT CP
1
and holomorphic symplectic form on bres valued in p

O(2).
Main ideas
Ricci-at deformation:
choose h
0,1
PT
(2) & dene almost C-structure

1,0
PT
= d
A
+
AB
h

B
, d
A
.
Almost complex structure is integrable iff

h +
AB
h

A

h

B
= 0.
Satised when h = (, , )
A
d
A
(Newmans H-space).
Space-time M = holomorphic sections of p : PT CP
1
:
a section
A
= F
A
(x, ) is holomorphic if

F
A
=
AB
h

B
(F, , ) .
Full 4-parameter family survives small deformations.
x, y M on light ray incidence CP
1
x
CP
1
y
,= .
;conformal structure with Weyl
+
= 0 on M
(and metric with Ricci= 0 with more work).
Main ideas
Ricci-at deformation:
choose h
0,1
PT
(2) & dene almost C-structure

1,0
PT
= d
A
+
AB
h

B
, d
A
.
Almost complex structure is integrable iff

h +
AB
h

A

h

B
= 0.
Satised when h = (, , )
A
d
A
(Newmans H-space).
Space-time M = holomorphic sections of p : PT CP
1
:
a section
A
= F
A
(x, ) is holomorphic if

F
A
=
AB
h

B
(F, , ) .
Full 4-parameter family survives small deformations.
x, y M on light ray incidence CP
1
x
CP
1
y
,= .
;conformal structure with Weyl
+
= 0 on M
(and metric with Ricci= 0 with more work).
Main ideas
Ricci-at deformation:
choose h
0,1
PT
(2) & dene almost C-structure

1,0
PT
= d
A
+
AB
h

B
, d
A
.
Almost complex structure is integrable iff

h +
AB
h

A

h

B
= 0.
Satised when h = (, , )
A
d
A
(Newmans H-space).
Space-time M = holomorphic sections of p : PT CP
1
:
a section
A
= F
A
(x, ) is holomorphic if

F
A
=
AB
h

B
(F, , ) .
Full 4-parameter family survives small deformations.
x, y M on light ray incidence CP
1
x
CP
1
y
,= .
;conformal structure with Weyl
+
= 0 on M
(and metric with Ricci= 0 with more work).
Background coupled elds
Linear elds
B

C
=
AA

C
e
AA

[ d
B

C
e
CC

= 0 on M
are obtained from B
A
H
1
(PT ,
1
p
(5)) by

AA

C
(x) =
_

A
=F
A
(x,)

A

B

C

B
A
B
B
(F, , )
E

d
E
.
where dF
A
=
B

A
B
e
BB

.
Eigenstates of momentum P
AA

= p
A
p
A

are obtained as
B
A
=
A
e
|P|]/[]

5
([ p]) ,

n
([ p]) =
[]
n+1
[p]
n+1

1
[ p]
Since asymptotic twistors are attached to I

, these
classes give asymptotic momentum eigenstates.
The MHV calculation
Background coupled elds inserted into MHV formula give
M(1+, 2+, e) =
_
MCP
1
x
CP
1
x
d
4
x [
1
d
1
][
2
d
2
][
1

2
]
3
B
1
[
1
[
2
[B
2
)
where on CP
1
x
,
A
1
= F
A
(x,
1
,
1
) etc.. Rewrite as
M(1+, 2+, e) =
_
MCP
1
x
CP
1
x
d
4
x[
1
d
1
]B
1C

AC
1

1
_
[
1

2
]
4

B
2A
B
2B
_
with

1
f =
_
CP
1
f
[
1

2
]
[
2
d
2
].
To eliminate F
A
(x, ) use dependent diffeomorphism
y
AA

=
F
A
(x, )
A

F
A
(x, )
A

)
; F
A
= y
AA

A
.
Under this diffeo



V where
V =

y
AA

y
AA

=
h

A

y
AA

.
Lippman-Schwinger expansion of (

V)
1
gives
M(1+, 2+, e)
=
_
MCP
1
y
CP
1
y
d
4
y[
1
d
1
]B
1C

AC
1
(

V)
1
_
[
1

2
]
4

B
2A
B
2B
_
=

i
_
MCP
1
y
CP
1
y
d
4
y[
1
d
1
]B
1C

AC
1

1
(V

1
)
i
_
[
1

2
]
4

B
2A
B
2B
_
Choose momentum eigenstates for B
iA
, i = 1, 2 and
h =
n

i =3

i
e
|P
i
|]/[]

2
([ i ]) .
Pick out term in
n
i =3

i
and integrate out delta-functions ;
BGK MHV formula.
Gives self-contained derivation from rst principles.
Twistor action for ASD gravity
M. & Wolf hep-th/0706.1941
For a twistor gravity action, we rst need one for ASD sector:
Action
S

[h, B
A
] =
_
PT
B
A

A
_

h +h, h
_
d
3
Z
with eld equations

A
_

h +h, h
_
= 0,

h
_

A
B
A
_
= 0.
integrability of almost C structure

h
=

+
AB h

B
and B
A
H
1
(PT ,
1,0
V
(5)).
Complete integrability: coordinates (axial gauge) such
that B
A
h, h/
A
= 0 so equations become linear.
MHV Twistor action for gravity
This formulation of anti-self-dual gravity works off-shell
and can include interactions of full gravity etc..
The MHV vertices are all generated as above by
S
MHV
[B
A
, h] =
_
MCP
1
x
CP
1
x
d
4
x [
1
d
1
][
2
d
2
][
1

2
]
3
B
1
[
1
[
2
[B
2
)
Set
S
Full
[B
A
, h] = S

[B
A
, h] + S
MHV
[B
A
, h]
;an action that gives the MHV formalism perturbatively.
N = 4 sugra extension is easy. N = 8 possible, but more
gauge dependent.
Summary and outlook
Summary
Self-contained proof of the BGK MHV gravity amplitudes.
Twistor gravity action that yields Gravity MHV formalism.
Off-shell, but gauge xed, so does not express full
symmetries.
Does not yet give self-contained proof of MHV formalism;
if MHV formalism for gravity is incomplete, then so is this
action.
Outlook
Twistor actions for Yang-Mills and conformal gravity are not
gauge xed and do give self-contained proof of MHV
formalism for Yang-Mills and conformal gravity;
suggests full gauge invariant twistor action should exist;
if MHV formalism is incomplete, it would give completion.