Advances in understanding nucleon interactions from lattice QCD

There are many open questions in nuclear physics which only lattice QCD may be able to answer. A particularly useful application is understanding experimental probes of new physics which utilize nuclei as "laboratories", such as searches for neutrinoless double beta decay. The first step toward building a bridge between the underlying theory, QCD, and nuclear observables is full control over the two-nucleon system. Unfortunately, the history of two-nucleon calculations has generated more questions than answers. In particular, there is a controversy in the literature between calculations performed using different theoretical techniques, even for calculations far from the physical point, chosen due to the exponentially simpler computational properties. In this talk, Nicholson will present the history and challenges behind two-nucleon calculations in lattice QCD, as well as advances in understanding and controlling the associated systematics.

Zoom link available upon request at physics@wustl.edu.
Post-docs and students' Q&A with the speaker starts at 2:15 pm.  Contact Garrett King for the Q&A Zoom link.