Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) is the quantum field theory of the strong nuclear force that describes how the fundamental building blocks of matter, quarks and gluons, are inextricably bound inside visible matter such as protons and neutrons.
Combining theoretical calculations of QCD parameters with experimental measurement provides powerful insight on the Standard Model of particle physics as well as precision information in searches for new physics. First principles QCD can also shed light on the nature of the new strong exotic matter discovered at LHC and other experiments as well as probing the nature of the quark gluon plasma - to understand the Universe in the first fractions of a second after the Big Bang.
A framework called Lattice QCD is used to probe the nature of QCD and the strong interaction using numerical simulation. QCD is formulated on a 4-dimensional spacetime grid that makes model-independent calculations possible. However, these numerical calculations still require enormous computing power on the world's leading supercomputers. Lattice QCD drives high-performance computing hardware and software development to enable the calculation of fundamental parameters of nature.
The Lattice QCD group at TCD is world leading in theoretical and algorithmic developments in QCD with strong links to the CERN physics program through its international collaborations. In Trinity, as part of its teaching mission the group runs a Masters degree in High-Performace Computing and a vibrant PhD program including an EU-funded ITN, together with IRC and philanthrophic Fellowships . The TCD group is a node in the EU STRONG2020 infrastructure project.
Contact: Mike Peardon (mjp@maths.tcd.ie), Stefan Sint (sint@ maths.tcd.ie). Sinéad Ryan (ryan@maths.tcd.ie),