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Particle physics

A win–win situation

Nature Physics volume 4, pages 438–440 (2008)Cite this article

The most precise calculations yet of how two quarks locked in a bound state annihilate have been achieved using lattice quantum chromodynamics — and signal a curious discrepancy.

Calculations in quantum chromodynamics (QCD), the quantum field theory that describes the strong force, are among the most intractable in physics. These include calculations related to charge–parity, or CP, violation — a phenomenon that leads to a subtle difference in the properties of matter and antimatter. As they report in Physical Review Letters, Follana et al.1 have made the most precise calculations yet that bear on CP violation, and their results have thrown up an unexpected discrepancy with experiment that could be evidence for an entirely new physical phenomenon.

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Figure 1: CP violation and the unitary triangle.
Figure 2: Quantum chromodynamics and the B meson.

References

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  1. Ian Shipsey is in the Department of Physics, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA. shipsey@purdue.edu,

    Ian Shipsey

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  1. Ian Shipsey
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Shipsey, I. A win–win situation. Nature Phys 4, 438–440 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/nphys981

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nphys981

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