Opening of Quantum Field Theory Center

– Close your eyes and feel your heart beating: Tik, Tik, Tik, Tik. This is the marking of time passing, right? Once we thought, as Newton thought, that this was a proof of time being absolute.

So began Professor, Francesco Sannino his talk when he, on the 20^th of November, opened the doors to the new Quantum Field Theory Center (QTC), part of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Southern Denmark, located at Danish Institute for Advanced Study.

And as the invited guests sat there with their eyes closed, feeling their heartbeats in their chests, so began the heartbeat of research with the potential to revolutionize our understanding of the world around us from particle physics to cosmology and condensed matter.

QTC’s research has far-reaching benefits for society including understanding of the laws of nature and inspiring the next generation of scientists. Quantum field theory unifies and reconciles Bohr’s quantum mechanics and Einstein’s theory of special relativity yielding the most profound understanding of the fundamental laws governing our Universe.

Yet, much is still left to be understood in Quantum Field Theory.

By exploiting novel synergies among powerful analytic and cutting-edge supercomputer methodologies, researchers at this new center are making progress in solving these dynamics, addressing some of the most outstanding problems in physics and mathematics.

And by understanding the laws of nature better and producing the seeds for the technologies of tomorrow, the center has set out to inspire young minds and increase the number of students interested in science while raising knowledge in the fundamental fields of mathematics and physics.

A special thanks to the invited guest speakers at the official opening, to the speakers on the academic program and to Carlsberg Foundation (Carlsbergfondet) for the necessary support.

Head of Department at the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Martin Svensson, Professor and Head of the Quantum Field Theory Centre, Francesco Sannino, and Professor and Head of Section for Computational Science, Claudio Pica.

Photo: Ursula Lundgreen.