Graviton multi-point amplitudes for higher-derivative gravity in anti-de Sitter space

Abstract: We calculate graviton multi-point amplitudes in an anti-de Sitter black brane background for higher-derivative gravity of arbitrary order in numbers of derivatives. The calculations are performed using tensor graviton modes in a particular regime of comparatively high energies and large scattering angles. The regime simplifies the calculations but, at the same time, is well suited for translating these results into the language of the dually related gauge theory. After considering theories of up to eight derivatives, we generalize to even higher-derivative theories by constructing a "basis" for the relevant scattering amplitudes. This construction enables one to find the basic form of the n-point amplitude for arbitrary n and any number of derivatives. Additionally, using the four-point amplitudes for six and eight-derivative gravity, we re-express the scattering properties in terms of the Mandelstam variables.