Quantum Chromodynamics

Most recent answer: 02/27/2010

Q:
Is quantum chromodynamics well understood? Is the problem with unification just gravity?
- Nadien (age 21)
USA
A:
The big problem with unification is definitely gravity. Quantum chromodynamics is at least well-formulated, but the consequences of the basic theory are fairly hard to calculate because the interaction is too strong to calculate effects by first ignoring it, then considering direct effects, then a sequence of effects acting on effects, etc.

There is a stage of unification (electroweak + chromodynamics) which is far from settled yet, but isn't expected to raise the really big problems that come up with gravity.

Mike W.

(published on 02/27/2010)