New and surprising duality found in theoretical particle physics

There is a new and surprising duality in theoretical particle physics. There are two types of scattering processes that can occur in the Large Hadron collider. The fact that this connection can be made points to the fact that there is something in the model of particle physics that is not fully understood. The model of the world on sub-atomic scale that explains all particles and their interactions is the standard model. The scientific article has been published.

There is duality in physics.

There are different areas of physics that have the concept of duality. The particle-wave duality in quantum mechanics is the most well known. Albert Einstein received the prize for showing that light behaves like a particle, while the famous double-slit experiment shows that light behaves like a wave.

The strange thing is that light is both at the same time. There are two ways in which we can look at this entity, light and mathematical description. Both have a completely different idea, but still describe the same thing.

The assistant professor at the Niels Bohr International Academy says that they have found a similar duality.

There is a mathematical map between the two, and it shows that they both contain the same information. They are connected.

Experiments and theory go hand in hand.

There are a lot of smaller particles in the protons that the Large Hadron collides.

In the collision, two gluons from different protons can interact and new particles are created, such as the Higgs particle, resulting in intricate patterns in the detectors.

Researchers map how these patterns look, and the theoretical work done in relation to the experiments aims to describe precisely what goes on in mathematical terms, as well as to make predictions that can be compared to the results of the experiments.

We used a slightly simplified version of the standard model to calculate the scattering process for two gluons interacting to produce four gluons and a Higgs particle. The results of these two calculations are related to each other. A case of both. The answer for how likely it is for one process to happen carries over to the other. The relation between the two different scattering processes is strange. We are mixing two very different physical properties of the two predictions, and we see the relation, but it is still a bit of a mystery.

The principle and application of duality.

According to current understanding, the two should not be connected, but with the discovery of this surprising duality, the only proper way to react to it is to investigate further.

There is something we know that we don't understand. There have been no new particles discovered after the discovery of the Higgs particle. The way we hope to detect new physics is by making very precise predictions on what we expect to happen, then comparing them with very precise measurements on what nature shows us, and see if we can find deviations there.

We need a lot of accuracy. One calculation is simpler than the other, so it is possible that this duality can be used to get a sort of mileage out of it.

If we can use the simple calculation, we can use the duality to answer the question that would otherwise require more complicated calculations. We are not there yet. The questions that arise from unexpected behavior of things are more interesting than an orderly and expected outcome.

More information: Lance J. Dixon et al, Folding Amplitudes into Form Factors: An Antipodal Duality, Physical Review Letters (2022). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.128.111602 Journal information: Physical Review Letters Citation: New and surprising duality found in theoretical particle physics (2022, April 25) retrieved 25 April 2022 from https://phys.org/news/2022-04-duality-theoretical-particle-physics.html This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.