Generalizing event shapes: In search of lost collider time

Abstract

We introduce a new class of collider-type observables in conformal field theories which we call generalized event shapes. They are defined as matrix elements of light-ray operators that are sensitive to the longitudinal, or time-dependent, structure of the state produced in the collision. Generalized event shapes can be studied using both correlation functions and scattering amplitudes. They are infrared finite and smoothly transit over to the familiar event shapes. We compute them in planar $\mathcal{N}=4$ super-Yang-Mills theory at weak and strong coupling, and study their physical properties. We show that at strong coupling both the stringy and quantum-gravitational corrections to the energy-energy correlation exhibit longitudinal broadening that manifests itself through the presence of long-time tails in the energy flux measured by the detectors.

101 pages, 6 figures, a few typos fixed, an ancillary Mathematica file added

References in corpus (12)

• Conformal collider physics: Energy and charge correlations
• Writing CFT correlation functions as AdS scattering amplitudes
• Eikonal Approximation in AdS/CFT: Resumming the Gravitational Loop Expansion
• Loop Corrections to Supergravity on $Ad{S}_5\times S^5$
• Local bulk S-matrix elements and CFT singularities
• Eikonal Approximation in AdS/CFT: Conformal Partial Waves and Finite N Four-Point Functions
• The Collinear Limit of the Energy-Energy Correlator
• Quantum Interference in Jet Substructure from Spinning Gluons
• Four point function of $\mathcal{N}=4$ stress-tensor multiplet at strong coupling
• On the light-ray algebra in conformal field theories
• Form factor recursion relations at loop level
• New result on phase shift analysis

Cited by in corpus (8)

• Analyzing N-point Energy Correlators Inside Jets with CMS Open Data
• A New Paradigm for Precision Top Physics: Weighing the Top with Energy Correlators
• Celestial Blocks and Transverse Spin in the Three-Point Energy Correlator
• Detectors in weakly-coupled field theories
• Three-point energy correlators and the celestial block expansion
• Conformal Colliders Meet the LHC
• Symmetry group at future null infinity I: Scalar theory
• Freedom near Lightcone and ANEC Saturation