Lattice QCD

In physics, lattice quantum chromodynamics (lattice QCD) is a theory of quarks and gluons formulated on a space-time lattice. That is, it is a lattice model of quantum chromodynamics, a special case of a lattice gauge theory or lattice field theory.

Additional recommended knowledge

Recognize and detect the effects of electrostatic charges on your balance

Guide to balance cleaning: 8 simple steps

Weighing the right way

Analytic or perturbative solutions in QCD are hard or impossible due to the highly nonlinear nature of the strong force. The formulation of QCD on a discrete rather than continuous space-time naturally introduces a momentum cut off at the order 1/a, which regularizes the theory. As a result lattice QCD is mathematically well-defined. Most importantly, lattice QCD provides the framework for investigation of non-perturbative phenomena such as confinement and quark-gluon plasma formation, which are intractable by means of analytic field theories.

Lattice QCD has already made contact with experiments at various fields with good results ^[1][2]

References

1. ^ MILC research program, Recent Results, taken from MILC Collaboration homepage
2. ^ C. Alexandrou, Ph. de Forcrand, B. Lucini Evidence for diquarks in lattice QCD, Phys.Rev.Lett.97:222002,2006

See also

• Lattice gauge theory
• Quark-gluon plasma
• QCD matter