ECT* Doctoral Training Programme 2006
March 13 - May 26

Computational Techniques in Strongly Interacting Systems

This year's programme will explore non-perturbative calculational methods requiring powerful computational facilities such as ECT*'s own BEN cluster.

The main focus will be put on QCD, the field theory of the strong interaction, where many important problems are most effectively and systematically tackled using numerical techniques. Indeed, with the advent of multi-teraflop facilities, significant progress in spectroscopy, hadron structure and thermodynamics is envisaged in the coming years. In addition to mainstream lattice QCD, there remain important problems, such as theories out of thermal equilibrium or in the presence of a non-vanishing baryon charge density, where in addition to raw computer power further technical and conceptual progress is required. As well as addressing these areas, the programme will also cover applications to related problems in many body physics.

As in previous years, the programme will feature daily lectures from recognised experts, the topics to be covered including: lattice QCD, QCD thermodynamics, numerical algorithms for fermions, the role of topological excitations, approaches to non-equilibrium quantum field theory, and Quantum Monte Carlo techniques in many-body physics.

The programme extends over 11 weeks, from March 13 till May 26 2006, each week being devoted to single topic. Students will have ample opportunity to interact with the lecturer outside the formal lecture period, and in addition ECT* staff will be on hand to assist tutorials and problem sessions.

Enquiries can be addressed to:

Simon Hands (Programme Coordinator, s.hands@swan.ac.uk)
Pietro Faccioli (Co-organiser, faccioli@science.unitn.it)