BUFFS · Bootstrap and Uniqueness for Form Factors and the S-matrix

Scattering amplitudes and form factors are fundamentally important quantities in quantum field theories, directly related to physical observables such as probabilities of particle interactions measured in collider experiments. Over the last decades, studies of these objects have revealed beautiful physical and mathematical structures, which have inspired powerful computational methods making accessible previously impossible calculations. The goal of this project is to further uncover such hidden structures, by exploiting a surprising interplay of fundamental principles. One focus will be on recently discovered infrared and ultraviolet principles, their possible duality, and how they can be used to construct scattering amplitudes in new ways that expose unitarity as an emergent property. Next, the project will explore the expression of unitarity as a geometry of positive constraints, which was conjectured to fully define string theory amplitudes. The final main goal is the application of such on-shell principles and the color-kinematic duality to form factors, off-shell generalisations of scattering amplitudes of great phenomenological importance. The project also encompasses a comprehensive program for the dissemination and communication of its results. The former will be based on publications in high impact journals and talks at major conferences, while the latter involves diverse outreach activities targeted at a wide range of audiences. The researcher will benefit from a bespoke training program, including courses in career management, public engagement, teaching activities, and participation in scientific workshops. The balanced distribution of these complementary activities is designed to optimise the benefit for the researcher, to increase his visibility and independence, to enhance his skills portfolio and, hence, to prepare him for a permanent academic position in the future.