PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY COLLOQUIUM

Thursday, November 2, 2006
4:10 p.m.

1415 Biomedical & Physical Sciences Bldg.
Refreshments at 3:30 pm in Rm. 1400 BPS Bldg

Speaker:  R. Sekhar Chivukula
          Michigan State University

Title:    Mass in QCD: Symmetries of a Quantum Field Theory

Abstract:

The symmetries of a quantum field theory can be realized in a variety of
ways.  Symmetries can be realized explicitly, approximately, through
spontaneous symmetry breaking or, via an anomaly, quantum effects can
dynamically eliminate a symmetry of the theory that was present at the
classical level.  Different symmetries in Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD),
the modern theory of the strong interactions, exemplify each of these
possibilities.  The interplay of these effects determine the spectrum of
particles that we observe and ultimately, account for 99% of the mass of
ordinary matter.