SAGEX — Scattering Amplitudes: from Geometry to Experiment

Results in brief

Scattering Amplitudes: from Geometry to Experiment

Scattering Amplitudes: from Geometry to Experiment (SAGEX) was a EU Horizon 2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action (MSCA) Innovative Training Network (ITN), funded from 01 September 2018 to 31 August 2022. The network comprised 8 Beneficiaries (7 academic and 1 non-academic), plus 15 academic and industrial Partner Organisations. It trained 15 outstanding Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) in the field of scattering amplitudes, providing cross-sectoral training via industry and academic secondments, as well as local and network-wide events. Scattering amplitudes describe the interactions between the fundamental particles that make up the world around us – the building blocks of all matter, from atoms to stars. Remarkably, they also describe the interactions of extraordinarily large objects, such as black holes. Advances in our theoretical understanding of scattering amplitudes have huge practical benefits: they enable more precise predictions at particle colliders such as the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), which allow better experimental measurements and searches for new particles; and allow us to push the precision frontier in gravitational wave studies at current experimental facilities such as the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) and the Virgo interferometer. In turn, these experiments lead the way in developing cutting-edge electronics and computing methods, which have considerable benefits for society as a whole. For the first time, we assembled a focussed team that unites researchers from all corners of the research field, with a common objective to make a step-change in the level of theoretical predictions that are possible. The research work was structured across three frontiers: • Geometry (leveraging beautiful and intriguing structures and patterns that have recently been revealed, which suggest that our fundamental understanding of scattering amplitudes is not yet complete). • Loops (pushing theoretical predictions to the highest possible level of detail). • Lab (applying the techniques developed above to real-life experiments such as the LHC). Each ESR developed technical breadth across the entire scattering amplitudes field, whilst gaining in-depth knowledge and skills in their own area of speciality. Additionally, they were trained in a range of transferable skills, and interacted closely with our industrial Partner Organisations to further enhance their future career potential.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

Scattering amplitudes, describing the observations of high-energy collider experiments, provide a window into the fundamental structures predicted by relativistic quantum theories. By identifying and exploiting seemingly disparate concepts from abstract geometry, symbolic big data, and phenomenological calculations, the SAGEX network will train the next generation of researchers in the new tools, approaches and insights that will make possible previously intractable analyses directly relevant to current and near-future particle physics experiments. Assembling an unprecedented team of top scholars in mathematics, theoretical physics, and symbolic computation with major industry partners including Wolfram Research, Maplesoft, and RISC GmbH, we intend to leverage our successes, expertise, and world-class scientific challenges to provide a unique training opportunity for Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) in Europe.Training of the network's ESRs will comprise an integrated curriculum of local and intensive network courses, schools, and engagement with active cutting-edge research. They will be seconded to at least one academic and one private sector partner of the project, building bridges between academic and industrial communities. SAGEX is set up to integrate several existing and highly recognised annual conferences with a series of new schools, workshops and industry partnerships. Through developing invaluable analytic, computational and soft skills, the ESRs emerging from this action will be eminently employable with the potential to become the next generation of European leaders in academia, industry, and the public sector. Finally, the training we offer, and the research carried out, will be made open and available, boosting not only Europe's continued leadership in the field of high-energy theoretical physics, but strategically allowing non-partner institutions with less domain experience to train scholars in relevant, in-demand skills.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

QUEEN MARY UNIVERSITY OF LONDON · LONDONCoordinatorUnited Kingdom
COMMISSARIAT A L ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES · ParisFrance
DEUTSCHES ELEKTRONEN-SYNCHROTRON DESY · HamburgGermany
HUMBOLDT-UNIVERSITAET ZU BERLIN · BerlinGermany
KOBENHAVNS UNIVERSITET · KOBENHAVNDenmark
RISC SOFTWARE GMBH · HAGENBERGAustria
THE PROVOST, FELLOWS, FOUNDATION SCHOLARS & THE OTHER MEMBERS OF BOARD, OF THE COLLEGE OF THE HOLY & UNDIVIDED TRINITY OF QUEEN ELIZABETH NEAR DUBLIN · DublinIreland
UNIVERSITY OF DURHAM · DURHAMUnited Kingdom

SAGEX · Scattering Amplitudes: from Geometry to Experiment

Results in brief

Scattering Amplitudes: from Geometry to Experiment

Project objective

Participants

Links