Approximating Feynman integrals using complete monotonicity and Stieltjes properties

Abstract

We present two novel approaches for the numerical evaluation of Feynman integrals based on their universal analytic properties related to positivity, namely complete monotonicity (CM) and Stieltjes properties. Building on recent results, we exploit the fact that scalar Feynman integrals in the Euclidean region are completely monotonic functions, meaning that all their derivatives have a fixed sign. Building on this observation, the CM bootstrap allows one to reconstruct integrals from differential equations without explicit boundary data, yielding rigorous bounds. The second method is based on a refinement of CM. We prove that Feynman integrals, within a certain range of parameters, are not only CM but in fact Stieltjes functions. This enables the use of Padé approximants with provable convergence properties in the cut complex plane, providing an efficient method for analytic continuation and fast numerical evaluation. We illustrate the method with simple examples such as the massive bubble integral and discuss applications to multi-loop integrals, including the 20-loop banana integral. Finally, we comment on a number of extensions of these novel avenues for computing Feynman integrals.