General Physics Motivations for Numerical Simulations of Quantum Field Theory
Abstract
Description
In this introductory article a brief description of Quantum Field Theories (QFT) is presented with emphasis on the distinction between strongly and weakly coupled theories. A case is made for using numerical simulations to solve QCD, the regnant theory describing the interactions between quarks and gluons. I present an overview of what these calculations involve, why they are hard, and why they are tailor made for parallel computers. Finally, I try to communicate the excitement amongst the practitioners by giving examples of the quantities we will be able to calculate to within a few percent accuracy in the next five years.
20 pages. To appear in a special issue of Parallel Computing devoted to Lattice QCD
20 pages. To appear in a special issue of Parallel Computing devoted to Lattice QCD