Full S-matrices and Witten diagrams with (relative) L-infinity algebras

TL;DR

This paper extends the $L_$-algebra framework to include trivial $S$-matrix contributions, enabling a comprehensive description of scattering amplitudes and Witten diagrams in AdS/CFT, including boundary effects.

Contribution

It introduces a cyclic relative $L_$-algebra approach that captures both trivial and nontrivial parts of the $S$-matrix, advancing the algebraic understanding of perturbative field theories.

Findings

Reproduces Witten diagrams, including trivial two-point functions.

Provides a unified algebraic framework for boundary and bulk theories.

Demonstrates applicability to Chern-Simons and Yang-Mills theories.

Abstract

The $L_\infty$-algebra approach to scattering amplitudes elegantly describes the nontrivial part of the $S$-matrix but fails to take into account the trivial part. We argue that the trivial contribution to the $S$-matrix should be accounted for by another, complementary $L_\infty$-algebra, such that a perturbative field theory is described by a cyclic relative $L_\infty$-algebra. We further demonstrate that this construction reproduces Witten diagrams that arise in AdS/CFT including, in particular, the trivial Witten diagrams corresponding to CFT two-point functions. We also discuss Chern-Simons theory and Yang-Mills theory on manifolds with boundaries using this approach.