Computational particle physics

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Computational particle physics refers to the methods and computing tools developed in and used by particle physics research. Like computational chemistry or computational biology, it is, for particle physics both a specific branch and an interdisciplinary field relying on computer science, theoretical and experimental particle physics and mathematics. The main fields of computational particle physics are: lattice field theory (numerical computations), automatic calculation of particle interaction or decay (computer algebra) and event generators (stochastic methods). [1] [2] [3]

Contents

Computing tools

History

Particle physics played a role in the early history of the internet; the World-Wide Web was created by Tim Berners-Lee when working at CERN in 1991.

Computer Algebra

Note: This section contains an excerpt from 'Computer Algebra in Particle Physics' by Stefan Weinzierl

Particle physics is an important field of application for computer algebra and exploits the capabilities of Computer Algebra Systems (CAS). This leads to valuable feed-back for the development of CAS. Looking at the history of computer algebra systems, the first programs date back to the 1960s. [9] The first systems were almost entirely based on LISP ("LISt Programming language"). LISP is an interpreted language and, as the name already indicates, designed for the manipulation of lists. Its importance for symbolic computer programs in the early days has been compared to the importance of FORTRAN for numerical programs in the same period. [10] Already in this first period, the program REDUCE had some special features for the application to high energy physics. An exception to the LISP-based programs was SCHOONSHIP, written in assembler language by Martinus J. G. Veltman and specially designed for applications in particle physics. The use of assembler code lead to an incredible fast program (compared to the interpreted programs at that time) and allowed the calculation of more complex scattering processes in high energy physics. It has been claimed the program's importance was recognized in 1998 by awarding the half of the Nobel prize to Veltman. [11] Also the program MACSYMA deserves to be mentioned explicitly, since it triggered important development with regard to algorithms. In the 1980s new computer algebra systems started to be written in C. This enabled the better exploitation of the resources of the computer (compared to the interpreted language LISP) and at the same time allowed to maintain portability (which would not have been possible in assembler language). This period marked also the appearance of the first commercial computer algebra system, among which Mathematica and Maple are the best known examples. In addition, a few dedicated programs appeared, an example relevant to particle physics is the program FORM by J. Vermaseren as a (portable) successor to SCHOONSHIP. More recently issues of the maintainability of large projects became more and more important and the overall programming paradigma changed from procedural programming to object-oriented design. In terms of programming languages this was reflected by a move from C to C++. Following this change of paradigma, the library GiNaC was developed. The GiNac library allows symbolic calculations in C++.

Code generation for computer algebra can also be used in this area.

Lattice field theory

Lattice field theory was created by Kenneth Wilson in 1974. [12] Simulation techniques were later developed from statistical mechanics. [13] [14]

Since the early 1980s, LQCD researchers have pioneered the use of massively parallel computers in large scientific applications, using virtually all available computing systems including traditional main-frames, large PC clusters, and high-performance systems. In addition, it has also been used as a benchmark for high-performance computing, starting with the IBM Blue Gene supercomputer.

Eventually national and regional QCD grids were created: LATFOR (continental Europe), UKQCD and USQCD. The ILDG (International Lattice Data Grid) is an international venture comprising grids from the UK, the US, Australia, Japan and Germany, and was formed in 2002. [15]

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lattice gauge theory</span> Theory of quantum gauge fields on a lattice

In physics, lattice gauge theory is the study of gauge theories on a spacetime that has been discretized into a lattice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lattice QCD</span> Quantum chromodynamics on a lattice

Lattice QCD is a well-established non-perturbative approach to solving the quantum chromodynamics (QCD) theory of quarks and gluons. It is a lattice gauge theory formulated on a grid or lattice of points in space and time. When the size of the lattice is taken infinitely large and its sites infinitesimally close to each other, the continuum QCD is recovered.

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Event generators are software libraries that generate simulated high-energy particle physics events. They randomly generate events as those produced in particle accelerators, collider experiments or the early universe. Events come in different types called processes as discussed in the Automatic calculation of particle interaction or decay article.

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The automatic calculation of particle interaction or decay is part of the computational particle physics branch. It refers to computing tools that help calculating the complex particle interactions as studied in high-energy physics, astroparticle physics and cosmology. The goal of the automation is to handle the full sequence of calculations in an automatic (programmed) way: from the Lagrangian expression describing the physics model up to the cross-sections values and to the event generator software.

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Schoonschip was one of the first computer algebra systems, developed in 1963 by Martinus J. G. Veltman, for use in particle physics.

The Sidney Fernbach Award established in 1992 by the IEEE Computer Society, in memory of Sidney Fernbach, one of the pioneers in the development and application of high performance computers for the solution of large computational problems as the Division Chief for the Computation Division at Lawrence Livermore Laboratory from the late 1950s through the 1970s. A certificate and $2,000 are awarded for outstanding contributions in the application of high performance computers using innovative approaches. The nomination deadline is 1 July each year.

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References

  1. https://arxiv.org/abs/1301.1211 Computational Particle Physics for Event Generators and Data Analysis retrieved 8/24/20
  2. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/234060239_Computational_Particle_Physics_for_Event_Generators_and_Data_Analysis Computational Particle Physics for Event Generators and Data Analysis retrieved 8/24/20
  3. https://www2.ccs.tsukuba.ac.jp/projects/ILFTNet/ International research network for computational particle physics retrieved 8/24/20
  4. Stefan Weinzierl:- "Computer Algebra in Particle Physics." pgs 5-7. Accessed 1 January 2012; (alternative link) : "Computer Algebra in Particle Physics." arXiv : hep-ph/0209234. Accessed 1 January 2012. "Seminario Nazionale di Fisica Teorica", Parma, September 2002.
  5. GridPP website  : accessed 19 June 2012.
  6. Dirk Duellmann, "Oracle Streams for the Large Hadron Collider" , page 3. Accessed 1 January 2011.
  7. M Liu, W Kuehn et al., "Hardware/Software Co-design of a General-Purpose Computation Platform in Particle Physics" , page 1. Accessed 20 February 2012.
  8. David Rousseau, "The Software behind the Higgs Boson Discovery," IEEE Software, pp. 11-15, Sept.-Oct., 2012
  9. Stefan Weinzierl, op. cit.  : pgs 3-5.
  10. Stefan Weinzierl, op. cit.  : pgs 3-5.
  11. Stefan Weinzierl, op. cit.  : pgs 3-5.
  12. Wilson, Kenneth G. (1974-10-15). "Confinement of quarks". Physical Review D. 10 (8). American Physical Society (APS): 2445–2459. Bibcode:1974PhRvD..10.2445W. doi:10.1103/physrevd.10.2445. ISSN   0556-2821.
  13. Callaway, David J. E.; Rahman, Aneesur (1982-08-30). "Microcanonical Ensemble Formulation of Lattice Gauge Theory". Physical Review Letters. 49 (9). American Physical Society (APS): 613–616. Bibcode:1982PhRvL..49..613C. doi:10.1103/physrevlett.49.613. ISSN   0031-9007.
  14. Callaway, David J. E.; Rahman, Aneesur (1983-09-15). "Lattice gauge theory in the microcanonical ensemble". Physical Review D. 28 (6). American Physical Society (APS): 1506–1514. Bibcode:1983PhRvD..28.1506C. doi:10.1103/physrevd.28.1506. ISSN   0556-2821.
  15. C.M. Maynard (2010). "International Lattice Data Grid: Turn on, plug in, and download Ch.2, pg. 3". arXiv: 1001.5207 [hep-lat].