International physics meeting at Duke to address interactions between fundamental particles

Physicists use the term "few" to describe the maximum number of fundamental particles whose complex interactions can be described precisely using present-day computing power. Fundamental particles include such constituents of atoms as protons, neutrons, electrons, quarks and gluons.

"As computer technology advances, we can tackle larger systems," said Werner Tornow, director of the Duke-headquartered Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory (TUNL), the main organizer of the conference. TUNL is a nuclear research collaboration between Duke, North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

"So far, we can exactly deal with four-body systems," Tornow said. "In the future, I think we'll be able to deal with more. Some people say maybe up to seven, but there is no clearly well-defined upper limit."

While few-body conferences began more than 40 years ago to address interactions within nuclei of individual atoms, they have since expanded to international gatherings addressing a broader array of subatomic, atomic and molecular interactions, he added.

Events will occur at the Physics Building, Levine Science Research Center and Griffith Theater on Duke's West Campus. During the conference, the IUPAP's Nuclear Physics Commission will also hold its annual meeting at Duke.