Symmetries of S-matrix and Infrared Physics

Recently, a new understanding has appeared of how certain spacetime symmetries are encoded in specific properties -- known as soft properties -- of the quantum mechanical scattering matrix. This connection holds both with and without gravity. Intense activity in this area has resulted in the discovery of new effects in the soft regime beyond the leading order in gauge and gravitational theories.

Indeed, a major theme in modern quantum field theory is that gravity and gauge theory are closely connected, and this connection is also reflected in soft physics. Many interesting directions arise out of the above studies; these include understanding the role of infrared effects in the context of black hole physics, revisiting the question of scattering with infrared safe asymptotic states, memory effects and a possible holographic description of Minkowskian scattering. It is increasingly clear that much more needs to be done to understand these issues including their connections fully and it seems that there may be still more symmetries in nature than is manifest.

This meeting aims to bring together leading experts in the field of soft physics, IR divergences in gauge theory, symmetries in QFT, string theory, black holes and especially scattering amplitudes for intensive communications and exchange of ideas.

Confirmed speakers and talks :

Dmitry Chicherin (MITP) - Amplitudes from superconformal Ward identities

Cesar Gomez (Instituto de Fisica Teorica UAM-CSIC) - TBA

Florian Loebbert (HU Berlin) - Hidden Conformal Symmetry in Tree-Level Graviton Scattering

Lionel Mason (Mathematical Institute, Oxford) - From null geodesics to gravitational scattering :An alternative route from BMS to soft theorems via ambitwistor strings

Tristan McLoughlin (Trinity College Dublin) - Conformal Higher Spin Theory - Amplitudes and Conserved Charges

Malcolm Perry (DAMTP, Cambridge) - Black Hole Entropy form Soft Hair

Cedric Troessaert (AEI) - The hamiltonian (ADM) description of asymptotic symmetries

Paolo Di Vecchia (Nordita) - Soft Theorems for Massless Particles from Gauge Invariance

Anastasia Volovich (Brown University) - TBA

Congkao Wen (QMUL) - Soft-theorem constraints on EFT

Chris White (QMUL) - The many faces of (next-to-) soft physics

Timetable:

** There is a workshop dinner being held from 7pm on Tuesday 17th. at

Sylvesters Restaurant, 55-57 W Nicolson St, Edinburgh EH8 9DB .

Walking route to Sylvester's from JCMB

Information for Participants:

Housing options:

link under "Resources" tab on the right

Directions and Maps:

The talks will be held in the Higgs Centre for Theoretical Physics, which is located in the James Clerk Maxwell Building of our King’s Buildings Campus, details to help you find us are below and the room will be sign-posted from the main entrance:

Edinburgh is well served by trains and planes. Details on getting from the City Centre to JCMB here. A map of the Kings Buildings campus here.

Many participants are staying at one of the Lauderville Guest House, Glendale House, Highfield Guest House or Edinburgh Sixteen. To get to the JCMB from these, we suggest walking; the maps are below:

• Walking route from the Lauderville Guest House
• Walking route from Glendale House
• Walking route from Highfield Guest House
• Walking route from Edinburgh Sixteen

Please note that we have a registration fee of £60 to cover catering costs, please contact the organisers for the separate payment link - dnandan [at] staffmail.ed.ac.uk, donal [at] staffmail.ed.ac.uk