Physicists have teamed up with an artificial intelligence (AI) model to arrive at a new result in theoretical physics. The method used by the team and the model is turning heads, as it simplifies the calculation of scattering amplitudes for particles.
To calculate these probabilities, scientists traditionally use Feynman diagrams, which show all possible ways particles can interact. However, with more particles involved, the number of diagrams grows extremely fast. In a new paper, researchers have focused on tree diagrams and found that an AI model suggested a simple formula to calculate scattering amplitudes for gluon collisions.
The team verified the formula using mathematical consistency rules and provided explicit formulas for calculations involving three, four, and five gluons. However, when they tried to apply the formula to six gluons, it became much more complex. The new formula, on the other hand, was found to be simpler and more manageable.
This finding is significant because simple equations often hide deep structures in physics. Professor Nima Arkani-Hamed said that this discovery shows that AI can help physicists uncover new ideas and understanding in theoretical physics.
However, there are also concerns about the reliability of AI in physics research. A recent paper by Stephen Hsu described a case where an AI model proposed a novel research direction but made errors in calculations. Another researcher, Jonathan Oppenheim, noted that the AI lacked wisdom to recognize settled territory and made incorrect assumptions.
Despite these concerns, researchers believe that AI can be a powerful tool for physics research when used carefully. They argue that AI can help physicists get unstuck and produce impressive results with supervision and scrutiny. However, it’s also important to have humans in the loop to evaluate conceptual novelty and significance and provide constructive feedback that advances science.
Source: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/chatgpt-helps-physicists-reveal-a-simple-formula-why-it-matters/article70631769.ece