Superstring Loop Amplitudes from the Field Theory Limit.

We propose a procedure to determine the moduli-space integrands of loop-level superstring amplitudes for massless external states in terms of the field theory limit. We focus on the type II superstring. The procedure is to (i) take a supergravity loop integrand written in a BCJ double-copy representation, (ii) use the loop-level scattering equations to translate that integrand into the ambitwistor string moduli-space integrand, localised on the nodal Riemann sphere, and (iii) uplift that formula to one on the higher-genus surface valid for the superstring, guided by modular invariance. We show how this works for the four-point amplitude at two loops, where we reproduce the known answer, and at three loops, where we present a conjecture that is consistent with a previous proposal for the chiral measure. Useful supergravity results are currently known up to five loops.

Polarized Scattering Equations for 6D Superamplitudes.

We introduce a spinorial version of the scattering equations, the polarized scattering equations, that incorporates spinor polarization data. They underpin new formulas for tree-level scattering amplitudes in six dimensions that directly extend to maximal supersymmetry. We find new ingredients for integrands for super Yang-Mills theory, gravity, M5 and D5 branes. We explain how the polarized scattering equations and supersymmetry representations arise from an ambitwistor string with target given by a supertwistor description of 6D superambitwistor space. On reduction to four dimensions, the polarized scattering equations give rise to massive analogues of the 4D refined scattering equations for amplitudes on the Coulomb branch. They give a quite distinct framework from that of Cachazo et al.; in particular, the formulas do not change character from even to odd numbers of particles.

Loop Integrands for Scattering Amplitudes from the Riemann Sphere.

The scattering equations on the Riemann sphere give rise to remarkable formulas for tree-level gauge theory and gravity amplitudes. Adamo, Casali, and Skinner conjectured a one-loop formula for supergravity amplitudes based on scattering equations on a torus. We use a residue theorem to transform this into a formula on the Riemann sphere. What emerges is a framework for loop integrands on the Riemann sphere that promises to have a wide application, based on off-shell scattering equations that depend on the loop momentum. We present new formulas, checked explicitly at low points, for supergravity and super-Yang-Mills amplitudes and for n-gon integrands at one loop. Finally, we show that the off-shell scattering equations naturally extend to arbitrary loop order, and we give a proposal for the all-loop integrands for supergravity and planar super-Yang-Mills theory.

Ambitwistor strings in four dimensions.

We develop ambitwistor string theories for four dimensions to obtain new formulas for tree-level gauge and gravity amplitudes with arbitrary amounts of supersymmetry. Ambitwistor space is the space of complex null geodesics in complexified Minkowski space, and in contrast to earlier ambitwistor strings, we use twistors rather than vectors to represent this space. Although superficially similar to the original twistor string theories of Witten, Berkovits, and Skinner, these theories differ in the assignment of world sheet spins of the fields, rely on both twistor and dual twistor representatives for the vertex operators, and use the ambitwistor procedure for calculating correlation functions. Our models are much more flexible, no longer requiring maximal supersymmetry, and the resulting formulas for amplitudes are simpler, having substantially reduced moduli. These are supported on the solutions to the scattering equations refined according to helicity and can be checked by comparison with corresponding formulas of Witten and of Cachazo and Skinner.