[postponed] Wenliang Li, Strong Coupling Is Hard! Bootstrap to the Rescue?

[postponed! updated 2020-03-25] Following the campus-wide social distancing advice, we are postponing this seminar. Details will be announced later. 

Speaker: Wenliang Li, Mathematical and Theoretical Physics  (Hikami) Unit

Title: Strong Coupling Is Hard! Bootstrap to the Rescue?

Abstract: Quantum Field Theory is a remarkable framework that describes diverse physical phenomena, from subatomic particles, to exotic phases of matter, to early universe inflation. In textbooks, Quantum Field Theory is presented as a lot of quantum harmonic oscillators with small perturbations, visualized by Feynman diagrams. However, this perturbative formulation does not work for strongly coupled phenomena. Some long-standing problems include quark confinement and high temperature superconductivity.

I will talk about a different approach to Quantum Field Theory: “to pull oneself up by one's bootstraps.” After explaining some basics of Quantum Field Theory and what “bootstrapping” means here, I will discuss a recent bootstrap result about the superfluid transition of Helium-4, where a large discrepancy between experiment and theory has existed for decades.

Please join the discussion with pizza and drink after the seminar!