Uncertainty Quantification in Lattice QCD Calculations for Nuclear Physics

TL;DR

This paper reviews how uncertainties in Lattice QCD calculations for nuclear physics can be systematically identified and reduced, enhancing the connection between fundamental theory and nuclear phenomena.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of the sources of uncertainty in Lattice QCD and discusses methods for their quantification and reduction.

Findings

Uncertainties in Lattice QCD can be systematically quantified.

Current methods allow for systematic reduction of statistical and systematic errors.

Lattice QCD has the potential to connect QCD with nuclear physics phenomena.

Abstract

The numerical technique of Lattice QCD holds the promise of connecting the nuclear forces, nuclei, the spectrum and structure of hadrons, and the properties of matter under extreme conditions with the underlying theory of the strong interactions, quantum chromodynamics. A distinguishing, and thus far unique, feature of this formulation is that all of the associated uncertainties, both statistical and systematic can, in principle, be systematically reduced to any desired precision with sufficient computational and human resources. We review the sources of uncertainty inherent in Lattice QCD calculations for nuclear physics, and discuss how each is quantified in current efforts.