Unravelling the Mystery of Quarks
Ever wondered what holds protons and neutrons together? Prof Derek Leinweber from University of Adelaide leads a team delving into the world of quarks using Pawsey’s supercomputing power!
Prof Leinweber works closely with colleague Dr Waseem Kamleh on “centre vortices” exploring the intricate nature of quarks and gluons as they form a foundation for the visible matter in our universe. They are shedding light on how quarks are confined within the protons and neutrons at the heart of the atom and discovering the origin of the proton’s mass through something called chiral symmetry breaking.
Why does it matter?
We think we know the theory, at least we can write down a set of equations. But the phenomena that emerges from the equations is wonderfully complicated. We’re still figuring out how the theory works, and centre vortices in the gluon fields are key.
Understanding how the theory creates the world around us will unlock secrets impacting the Nation’s energy-generation and national-security sectors.
It will inspire new experiments and move today’s technological boundaries. Pawsey’s supercomputers provide the processing power needed to simulate this complex theory of quarks and gluons, bringing us closer to unlocking the secrets of the universe! Adelaide’s supercomputer simulations provide a leap forward in understanding subatomic physics, showcasing the invaluable role of supercomputers in exploring the universe’s fundamental building blocks.
Read more about their findings: https://hubs.ly/Q02T2t750
Project Leader.
