The One-Loop QCD $\beta$-Function as an Index

Abstract

In this letter we show that the one-loop QCD $\beta$-function can be obtained from an index theorem on twistor space. This is achieved by recalling that the $\theta$-angle of self-dual gauge theory flows according the one-loop $\beta$-function. Rewriting self-dual gauge theory as a holomorphic theory on twistor space this flow can be computed as the anomaly to scale invariance. The one-loop Weyl anomaly coefficient $a-c$ can be recovered similarly.

arXiv comment7 pages + 2 pages supplementary material; v2: references added, typos corrected; v3: published in PRL

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