Extracting light-cone wave functions from covariant amplitudes: a detailed study in scalar field theory

TL;DR

This paper introduces a formula linking covariant off-shell amplitudes to light-cone wave functions in scalar field theory, validated at one-loop level, simplifying calculations and enabling new research directions.

Contribution

It proposes and validates a systematic formula for deriving light-cone wave functions from covariant amplitudes, streamlining the computational process.

Findings

The formula is equivalent to light-cone perturbation theory at one-loop accuracy.

It allows re-derivation of wave functions directly from covariant amplitudes.

The approach simplifies calculations and facilitates applications in gauge theories.

Abstract

We propose a conjectured formula that systematically maps covariant off-shell amplitudes to light-cone wave functions in scalar field theory. Through an explicit comparison at one-loop accuracy, we establish its equivalence to the light-cone perturbation theory series, thereby validating the conjecture at this order. Applying this formula, we efficiently re-derive wave functions from known covariant amplitudes, bypassing both the conceptual complexities of light-cone quantization and the technical challenges of perturbative calculations in this framework. In addition to simplifying computations, this approach opens new avenues for applications in gauge theories and deeper explorations of the fundamental equivalence between covariant and light-cone quantization.