Carnegie Mellon Physicist Joins National Project to Use AI in Physics
A Carnegie Mellon University physicist has joined a national research team using artificial intelligence and supercomputers to study fundamental particles. The project aims to improve calculations and help interpret data from major physics experiments.
In short: A Carnegie Mellon University physicist has joined a national research team using artificial intelligence and supercomputers to study fundamental particles. The project aims to improve calculations and help interpret data from major physics experiments.
Artificial intelligence is stepping into the world of subatomic physics, helping scientists tackle some of the toughest math problems in science.
What happened, in plain words
Physics Professor Colin Morningstar from Carnegie Mellon University joined a national team awarded a Phase II grant from the U.S. Department of Energy's Genesis Mission. Led by William Detmold of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the project titled 'Lattice QCD at the Intelligence Frontier' brings together researchers from about 15 universities and six national laboratories. The team will use artificial intelligence and powerful supercomputers to make calculations about quarks, gluons, protons, and neutrons faster and more efficient.
Key points
- Genesis Mission Phase II Grant: The project received funding to accelerate discoveries in particle and nuclear physics by combining artificial intelligence with supercomputers.
- Studying the Strong Force: Colin Morningstar uses large-scale computer simulations to study the strong force, which binds quarks and gluons into protons and neutrons.
- Supporting Major Experiments: The theoretical calculations are essential for interpreting data from major Department of Energy experiments like the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment and the future Electron-Ion Collider.
- Additional National Science Foundation Support: Morningstar also received two National Science Foundation grants to support complementary work on particle structures and specialized software for supercomputers.
Terms explained
- Artificial intelligence — Computer systems designed to perform tasks that typically require human thinking, such as learning, problem-solving, and automating data analysis. Example: A navigation app that figures out the fastest driving route by processing traffic patterns.
- Quarks and gluons — Tiny fundamental building blocks and forces that make up larger particles like protons and neutrons. Example: Individual Lego bricks that snap together to build a larger toy structure.
- Supercomputers — Extremely powerful computer systems capable of handling massive amounts of data and complex calculations at very high speeds. Example: A computer setup that instantly predicts weather patterns across an entire continent.
Why it matters
Advancing fundamental knowledge about the universe helps lay the groundwork for future technological breakthroughs and supports the interpretation of data from major physics experiments.
What we still don't know
The project is exploring how artificial intelligence can assist with calculations, and researchers are still working to determine where these tools can truly make a difference. The work focuses on fundamental physics and theoretical calculations rather than immediate practical consumer products.
Based on reporting from Carnegie Mellon University. This is an independent explainer, written in our own words with AI assistance; Carnegie Mellon University has not reviewed or endorsed it. Read the original for the full details.