What is lattice gauge theory?

Lattice gauge theory is a mathematical technique used for computing properties of elementary particles. It was invented by Kenneth Wilson, and was an outgrowth of the work that won him the 1982 Nobel prize in physics.  [more]

Lattice gauge theory can be used to predict the behaviour of matter made of elementary particles under extreme conditions of temperature and pressure. All matter emerged from such extreme conditions of temperature within 20 microseconds after the birth of the universe.  [more]

Some particle accelerators, such as the Relativistic Heavy-Ion Collider (RHIC) in the USA are trying to recreate these conditions in the laboratory, by heating extremely tiny bits of matter to temperatures of over a million times that in the core of the sun.  [more]

For more information see pages at Fermilab, Desy, Adelaide, or the Lattice web.

What is the ILGTI?

The Indian Lattice Gauge Theory Initiative (ILGTI) is a collaboration of scientists from Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (Mumbai), Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics (Kolkata), Institute of Mathematical Sciences (Chennai) and Satyendra Nath Bose National Center for Basic Sciences (Kolkata).  

Members of this collaboration have common working interests in lattice gauge theory. The full development of the ideas they work on needs very large scale computation. The ILGTI was formed as a research consortium which could cater jointly to the computing needs of this community of physicists. The DAE has extended support to this collaboration.

Why does all this need super-computing?

The theory of elementary particles like quarks and gluons is called Quantum Chromo-Dynamics (QCD). Obtaining properties of matter from QCD using methods of lattice gauge theory requires tremendous mathematical computations. We need super-computers for this.  [more]