"How QCD Works"


Hank Thacker , University of Virginia
[Host: Joseph Poon]
ABSTRACT:
Mathematically, the interaction between quarks and gluons is remarkably similar to the electromagnetic interaction of electrons and photons. But unlike QED, QCD has an essentially nonperturbative structure, as exhibited most strikingly by the absolute confinement of quarks, which represents a fundamental property of the QCD vacuum (complete screening of color charge). Another property of QCD, chiral symmetry breaking, is also a statement about the vacuum, i.e. that it is full of quark-antiquark pairs (analogous to Cooper pairs in BCS theory). Chiral symmetry breaking and quark confinement are probably related phenomena, but the connection is poorly understood. I will discuss recent lattice calculations which have begun to expose the structure of the QCD vacuum.
Colloquium
Friday, April 20, 2001
4:00 PM
Physics Building, Room 204
Note special time.
Note special room.

 Add to your calendar

To add a speaker, send an email to phys-speakers@Virginia.EDU. Please include the seminar type (e.g. Colloquia), date, name of the speaker, title of talk, and an abstract (if available).