Schubert Problems, Positivity and Symbol Letters

Abstract

We propose a geometrical approach to generate symbol letters of amplitudes/integrals in planar $\mathcal{N}=4$ Super Yang-Mills theory, known as {\it Schubert problems}. Beginning with one-loop integrals, we find that intersections of lines in momentum twistor space are always ordered on a given line, once the external kinematics $\mathbf{Z}$ is in the positive region $G_{+}(4,n)$. Remarkably, cross-ratios of these ordered intersections on a line, which are guaranteed to be positive now, nicely coincide with symbol letters of corresponding Feynman integrals, whose positivity is then concluded directly from such geometrical configurations. In particular, we reproduce from this approach the $18$ multiplicative independent algebraic letters for $n=8$ amplitudes up to three loops. Finally, we generalize the discussion to two-loop Schubert problems and, again from ordered points on a line, generate a new kind of algebraic letters which mix two distinct square roots together. They have been found recently in the alphabet of two-loop double-box integral with $n\ge 9$, and they are expected to appear in amplitudes at $k+\ell \ge 4$.

19 pages, 4 figures

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• Bootstrapping an NMHV amplitude through three loops
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Cited by in corpus (9)

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• Intersection theory rules symbology
• Cutting the traintracks: Cauchy, Schubert and Calabi-Yau
• Canonical differential equations for the elliptic two-loop five-point integral family relevant to $t\bar{t}+$jet production at leading colour
• Feynman Integrals from Positivity Constraints
• A nice two-loop next-to-next-to-MHV amplitude in $\mathcal{N}=4$ super-Yang-Mills