Speaker: Professor Chris Allton
Affiliation: Swansea University, UK
Abstract
The strong interaction of particle physics, QCD, has a rich phase structure, much of which is not fully understood. At low temperatures and densities, the QCD interaction has a linearly rising potential and has the familiar confining properties where quarks are bound into hadrons. At temperatures above several trillion Kelvin, QCD exists as a quark gluon plasma, which is a relatively weakly interacting phase where quarks are no longer bound. This plasma phase existed briefly in the very early Universe, and, incredibly, can be reproduced in particle experiments in e.g. CERN where heavy lead nuclei are collided in the Large Hadron Collider.
This talk will review studies of hadrons as the temperature increases using the theoretical tool of Lattice Gauge Theory. These provide crucial inputs for models of interactions in the heavy nuclei experiments aiding the interpretation of the experimental results. This approach uses supercomputer simulations and draws heavily from statistical mechanics ideas.
About Physics Seminars
The weekly Physics Seminar series focuses on a broad range of physics research within SMP, along with frequent presentations from visiting researchers. Seminars are usually scheduled for 1.00pm on Tuesdays.
The talks are typically more specialised than a colloquium but are often attended by staff and PhD students across a broad range of areas. Speakers are thus encouraged to include introductory material in the talks.
All SMP researchers and HDR students are encouraged to speak. Please email Lewis Williamson to register your interest.
The seminars are open so there is no need to register your attendance.