Patrick Bowman
CSSM
Monday, April 28, 3.30pm
4th Floor, CSSM
Introduction to Lattice QCD with Staggered Quarks
Abstract:
I will present a brief introduction to lattice Quantum Chromodynamics using the Staggered, or Kogut-Susskind, formulation for fermions. Lattice gauge theory is a nonperturbative method for handling quantum field theories and produces results with entirely controllable systematic errors. Staggered fermions are relatively cheap to simulate and enjoy and exact chiral symmetry, but have a complicated spin-flavour structure. While Staggered simulations have been in the minority for most of the history of lattice gauge theory, improved versions of the Staggered action have produced a recent surge in their use. I will demonstrate how hadronic operators may be constructed used to calculate particle masses.