Direct numerical approach to one-loop amplitudes

Abstract

We present a completely numerical method of calculating one-loop amplitudes. Our approach is built upon two different existing methods: the contour deformation and the extrapolation methods. Taking the best features of each of them, we devise an intuitive, stable and robust procedure which circumvents the problem of large cancellations and related numerical instabilities by calculating the complete amplitude at once. As a proof of concept, we use our method to calculate the $2\gamma \to (N - 2)\gamma$ benchmark process, as well as the Higgs decay amplitude $H \to \gamma \gamma$.