Work

Kinematic Stratifications

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: We study stratifications of regions in the space of symmetric matrices. Their points are Mandelstam matrices for momentum vectors in particle physics. Kinematic strata in these regions are indexed by signs and rank two matroids. Matroid strata of Lorentzian quadratic forms arise when all signs are non-negative. We characterize the posets of strata, for massless and massive particles, with and without momentum conservation.

Source: Discrete & Computational Geometry

DOI: 10.1007/s00454-026-00862-6

Authors: Veronica Calvo Cortes, Hadleigh Frost, Bernd Sturmfels

Institutions: Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in the Sciences, Institute for Advanced Study

Language: English

Topic: Advanced Combinatorial Mathematics

Subfield: Discrete Mathematics and Combinatorics

Field: Mathematics

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,090

Funders: U.S. Department of Energy, European Commission, H2020 European Research Council