Research in High Energy Theoretical Physics

该项目通过使用高性能计算机模拟继续进行量子色动力学（强相互作用理论）的第一原理研究。在已知量的计算中，所使用的改进的计算算法在过去的几年中已经过测试，结果非常好。在下一阶段，这些算法将用于提取迄今为止自然界基本相互作用标准模型中关键数字的最精确值。所获得的结果对于分析国家加速器实验室的实验测量和检验模型的内部一致性是必不可少的。它们可能会导致关于更基本的相互作用的线索。它们还将用于继续研究封闭物质和夸克胶子等离子体之间的高温相变以及等离子体中的奇异夸克含量。这种相变发生在早期宇宙的演化中，被认为是在布鲁克海文国家实验室的RHIC加速器的重离子碰撞实验室中可以实现的。通过对改进算法的性能和局限性的研究，也拓宽了我们对格场理论的理解。更广泛的影响是，这些研究对于扩展我们对物理世界和宇宙起源的最基本基础的理解非常重要。数学思想很可能在其他计算领域得到应用。所支持的活动促进了受过计算技能培训的青年科学家的发展。

This project continues first principles studies of quantum chromodynamics (the theory of the strong interactions) through the use of high performance computer simulations. In calculations of known quantities the improved computational algorithms in use have been tested in the past couple of years with excellent results. In the next phase these algorithms will be used to extract the most precise values to date of key numbers in the Standard Model of the fundamental interactions in Nature. Results to be obtained are essential for analyzing experimental measurements at national accelerator laboratories and for testing the internal consistency of the Model. They may lead to clues about more fundamental interactions. They will also be used to continue studies of the high temperature phase transition between confined matter and the quark-gluon plasma and of the strange quark content of the plasma. Such a phase transition occurred in the evolution of the early Universe and is thought to be achievable in the laboratory in collisions of heavy ions at the RHIC accelerator at Brookhaven National Laboratory. Through studies of the performance and limitations of improved algorithms, this work also broadens our understanding of lattice field theory. The broader impacts are that these studies are important for extending our understanding of the most fundamental basis of our physical world and of the origins of our Universe. Algorithmic ideas are likely to have applications in other computational fields. The supported activity promotes the development of young scientists trained in computational skills.