Konwersatorium im. Leopolda Infelda

In high energy scattering processes, nature is probed at very short, subatomic distances. Quantum field theory, in particular gauge theories, provide theoretical foundations of the standard model of particle physics and offer powerful tools for computing scattering amplitudes in perturbation theory.
Much less is known about quantum gravity, but the recent discovery of gravitational waves prompts us to consider scattering processes involving gravitons, hypothetical quanta of gravitational radiation. At this point, the scattering processes involving gravitons are of purely academic interest, but it is hoped that understanding such processes will provide some clues to quantum gravity. Indeed, the structure of scattering amplitudes indicates some deep connection between gauge theory and gravity.