Geometry of In-In Correlators
Abstract
We introduce a family of polytopes——whose boundary structure organizes the contributions to scalar equal-time correlators in flat space computed via the in-in formalism. We provide explicit Minkowski sum and facet descriptions of these polytopes, and show that their boundaries factorize into products of graphical zonotopes and lower-dimensional in-in zonotopes, thereby mimicking the factorization structure of the correlators themselves. Evaluating their canonical forms at the origin—equivalently, calculating the volume of the dual polytope—reproduces the correlator. Finally, in a simple example, we show that the wave function decomposition of the correlator corresponds to a subdivision of the dual polytope.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Black Holes and Theoretical Physics
Noncommutative and Quantum Gravity Theories
Advanced Combinatorial Mathematics
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Physical Review Letters
- Volume
- 137
- Issue
- 16
- Publication date
- 15 September 2026
- Language
- EN