Vector Effective Field Theories from Soft Limits

TL;DR

This paper constructs vector effective field theories using soft limits of scattering amplitudes, uniquely identifying the Born-Infeld model through infrared conditions and proposing new recursion relations.

Contribution

It introduces a bottom-up approach to derive vector EFTs from soft amplitude limits, establishing the Born-Infeld theory as uniquely fixed by these infrared properties.

Findings

Born-Infeld model is uniquely determined by soft limits.

New recursion relations for scattering amplitudes in BI theory.

Potential existence of broader classes of vector EFTs.

Abstract

We present a bottom-up construction of vector effective field theories using the infrared structure of scattering amplitudes. Our results employ two distinct probes of soft kinematics: multiple soft limits and single soft limits after dimensional reduction, applicable in four and general dimensions, respectively. Both approaches uniquely specify the Born-Infeld (BI) model as the only theory of vectors completely fixed by certain infrared conditions which generalize the Adler zero for pions. These soft properties imply new recursion relations for on-shell scattering amplitudes in BI theory and suggest the existence of a wider class of vector effective field theories.