Mathematical aspects of Feynman integrals

In the present dissertation we consider Feynman integrals in the framework of dimensional regularization. As all such integrals can be expressed in terms of scalar integrals, we focus on this latter kind of integrals in their Feynman parametric representation and study their mathematical properties, partially applying graph theory, algebraic geometry and number theory. The three main topics are the graph theoretic properties of the Symanzik polynomials, the termination of the sector decomposition algorithm of Binoth and Heinrich and the arithmetic nature of the Laurent coefficients of Feynman integrals.rnrnThe integrand of an arbitrary dimensionally regularised, scalar Feynman integral can be expressed in terms of the two well-known Symanzik polynomials. We give a detailed review on the graph theoretic properties of these polynomials. Due to the matrix-tree-theorem the first of these polynomials can be constructed from the determinant of a minor of the generic Laplacian matrix of a graph. By use of a generalization of this theorem, the all-minors-matrix-tree theorem, we derive a new relation which furthermore relates the second Symanzik polynomial to the Laplacian matrix of a graph.rnrnStarting from the Feynman parametric parameterization, the sector decomposition algorithm of Binoth and Heinrich serves for the numerical evaluation of the Laurent coefficients of an arbitrary Feynman integral in the Euclidean momentum region. This widely used algorithm contains an iterated step, consisting of an appropriate decomposition of the domain of integration and the deformation of the resulting pieces. This procedure leads to a disentanglement of the overlapping singularities of the integral. By giving a counter-example we exhibit the problem, that this iterative step of the algorithm does not terminate for every possible case. We solve this problem by presenting an appropriate extension of the algorithm, which is guaranteed to terminate. This is achieved by mapping the iterative step to an abstract combinatorial problem, known as Hironaka's polyhedra game. We present a publicly available implementation of the improved algorithm. Furthermore we explain the relationship of the sector decomposition method with the resolution of singularities of a variety, given by a sequence of blow-ups, in algebraic geometry.rnrnMotivated by the connection between Feynman integrals and topics of algebraic geometry we consider the set of periods as defined by Kontsevich and Zagier. This special set of numbers contains the set of multiple zeta values and certain values of polylogarithms, which in turn are known to be present in results for Laurent coefficients of certain dimensionally regularized Feynman integrals. By use of the extended sector decomposition algorithm we prove a theorem which implies, that the Laurent coefficients of an arbitrary Feynman integral are periods if the masses and kinematical invariants take values in the Euclidean momentum region. The statement is formulated for an even more general class of integrals, allowing for an arbitrary number of polynomials in the integrand.

Topologically correct intersection curves of tori and natural quadrics

This thesis provides efficient and robust algorithms for the computation of the intersection curve between a torus and a simple surface (e.g. a plane, a natural quadric or another torus), based on algebraic and numeric methods. The algebraic part includes the classification of the topological type of the intersection curve and the detection of degenerate situations like embedded conic sections and singularities. Moreover, reference points for each connected intersection curve component are determined. The required computations are realised efficiently by solving quartic polynomials at most and exactly by using exact arithmetic. The numeric part includes algorithms for the tracing of each intersection curve component, starting from the previously computed reference points. Using interval arithmetic, accidental incorrectness like jumping between branches or the skipping of parts are prevented. Furthermore, the environments of singularities are correctly treated. Our algorithms are complete in the sense that any kind of input can be handled including degenerate and singular configurations. They are verified, since the results are topologically correct and approximate the real intersection curve up to any arbitrary given error bound. The algorithms are robust, since no human intervention is required and they are efficient in the way that the treatment of algebraic equations of high degree is avoided.

Frobenius polynomials for Calabi-Yau equations

Sei $\pi:X\rightarrow S$ eine \"uber $\Z$ definierte Familie von Calabi-Yau Varietaten der Dimension drei. Es existiere ein unter dem Gauss-Manin Zusammenhang invarianter Untermodul $M\subset H^3_{DR}(X/S)$ von Rang vier, sodass der Picard-Fuchs Operator $P$ auf $M$ ein sogenannter {\em Calabi-Yau } Operator von Ordnung vier ist. Sei $k$ ein endlicher K\"orper der Charaktetristik $p$, und sei $\pi_0:X_0\rightarrow S_0$ die Reduktion von $\pi$ \uber $k$. F\ur die gew\ohnlichen (ordinary) Fasern $X_{t_0}$ der Familie leiten wir eine explizite Formel zur Berechnung des charakteristischen Polynoms des Frobeniusendomorphismus, des {\em Frobeniuspolynoms}, auf dem korrespondierenden Untermodul $M_{cris}\subset H^3_{cris}(X_{t_0})$ her. Sei nun $f_0(z)$ die Potenzreihenl\osung der Differentialgleichung $Pf=0$ in einer Umgebung der Null. Da eine reziproke Nullstelle des Frobeniuspolynoms in einem Teichm\uller-Punkt $t$ durch $f_0(z)/f_0(z^p)|_{z=t}$ gegeben ist, ist ein entscheidender Schritt in der Berechnung des Frobeniuspolynoms die Konstruktion einer $p-$adischen analytischen Fortsetzung des Quotienten $f_0(z)/f_0(z^p)$ auf den Rand des $p-$adischen Einheitskreises. Kann man die Koeffizienten von $f_0$ mithilfe der konstanten Terme in den Potenzen eines Laurent-Polynoms, dessen Newton-Polyeder den Ursprung als einzigen inneren Gitterpunkt enth\alt, ausdr\ucken,so beweisen wir gewisse Kongruenz-Eigenschaften unter den Koeffizienten von $f_0$. Diese sind entscheidend bei der Konstruktion der analytischen Fortsetzung. Enth\alt die Faser $X_{t_0}$ einen gew\ohnlichen Doppelpunkt, so erwarten wir im Grenz\ubergang, dass das Frobeniuspolynom in zwei Faktoren von Grad eins und einen Faktor von Grad zwei zerf\allt. Der Faktor von Grad zwei ist dabei durch einen Koeffizienten $a_p$ eindeutig bestimmt. Durchl\auft nun $p$ die Menge aller Primzahlen, so erwarten wir aufgrund des Modularit\atssatzes, dass es eine Modulform von Gewicht vier gibt, deren Koeffizienten durch die Koeffizienten $a_p$ gegeben sind. Diese Erwartung hat sich durch unsere umfangreichen Rechnungen best\atigt. Dar\uberhinaus leiten wir weitere Formeln zur Bestimmung des Frobeniuspolynoms her, in welchen auch die nicht-holomorphen L\osungen der Gleichung $Pf=0$ in einer Umgebung der Null eine Rolle spielen.

Study of the helicity dependence of pi 0 photoproduction on proton at MAMI

The excitation spectrum is one of the fundamental properties of every spatially extended system. The excitations of the building blocks of normal matter, i.e., protons and neutrons (nucleons), play an important role in our understanding of the low energy regime of the strong interaction. Due to the large coupling, perturbative solutions of quantum chromodynamics (QCD) are not appropriate to calculate long-range phenomena of hadrons. For many years, constituent quark models were used to understand the excitation spectra. Recently, calculations in lattice QCD make first connections between excited nucleons and the fundamental field quanta (quarks and gluons). Due to their short lifetime and large decay width, excited nucleons appear as resonances in scattering processes like pion nucleon scattering or meson photoproduction. In order to disentangle individual resonances with definite spin and parity in experimental data, partial wave analyses are necessary. Unique solutions in these analyses can only be expected if sufficient empirical information about spin degrees of freedom is available. The measurement of spin observables in pion photoproduction is the focus of this thesis. The polarized electron beam of the Mainz Microtron (MAMI) was used to produce high-intensity, polarized photon beams with tagged energies up to 1.47 GeV. A "frozen-spin" Butanol target in combination with an almost 4π detector setup consisting of the Crystal Ball and the TAPS calorimeters allowed the precise determination of the helicity dependence of the γp → π0p reaction. In this thesis, as an improvement of the target setup, an internal polarizing solenoid has been constructed and tested. A magnetic field of 2.32 T and homogeneity of 1.22×10−3 in the target volume have been achieved. The helicity asymmetry E, i.e., the difference of events with total helicity 1/2 and 3/2 divided by the sum, was determined from data taken in the years 2013-14. The subtraction of background events arising from nucleons bound in Carbon and Oxygen was an important part of the analysis. The results for the asymmetry E are compared to existing data and predictions from various models. The results show a reasonable agreement to the models in the energy region of the ∆(1232)-resonance but large discrepancies are observed for energy above 600 MeV. The expansion of the present data in terms of Legendre polynomials, shows the sensitivity of the data to partial wave amplitudes up to F-waves. Additionally, a first, preliminary multipole analysis of the present data together with other results from the Crystal Ball experiment has been as been performed.