Centre for the Subatomic Structure of Matter

Advancing our understanding of the subatomic structure of matter

The Centre for the Subatomic Structure of Matter (CSSM) carries out research in theoretical nuclear and particle physics. Our aim is to make advances in our understanding of the structure of subatomic matter and establish a sound and consistent theoretical framework. We integrate theory and experiment to allow a variety of attacks on the problem so that progress can be made more rapidly than by a set of isolated projects.

CSSM began official operations in 1997 as a result of a national proposal by Professors Anthony W. Thomas and Anthony G. Williams for one of eight Commonwealth Special Research Centres. CSSM reports annually to the Australian Research Council as a Special Research Centre. During its lifetime, CSSM has developed a very strong international reputation as a major contributor in its area and has held more than 40 international workshops and conferences.

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We undertake research in theoretical nuclear and particle physics to advance our understanding of the structure of subatomic matter.

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We have a strong international reputation and work at the forefront of research into nuclear and particle physics.

Explore the Centre for the Subatomic Structure of Matter

Our researchers aim to advance our understanding of the structure of hadronic matter. Hadronic matter makes up almost the entire mass of the tangible universe, from protons and neutrons to atomic nuclei and neutron stars. We are also involved in the search for new laws of physics beyond the Standard Model, including the nature of dark matter.

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At CSSM, our research has an emphasis on the strong interactions and their importance in determining the nature of matter. The Strong Interactions are described by the quantum field theory, called quantum chromodynamics (QCD), which governs the interactions between quarks and gluons.

In studying the Strong Interaction, we explore the Standard Model of nuclear and particle physics and its role in explaining the nature of hadronic matter. Topics of interest range from individual hadrons to atomic nuclei, and ultimately the most dense matter in the Universe in the core of neutron stars.

We are working to clarify further the behaviour of the microscopic world through a variety of complementary techniques, including:

Supercomputer simulations of fundamental quantum theories (such as QCD)

Effective field theory calculations

Building models that capture the essential degrees of freedom in complex systems (such as the quark-meson coupling model).

QCD Visualisations

Empty space is not empty. It's filled with the quark and gluon fields of Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) – the quantum field theory of the strong interactions governing the structure of subatomic matter.

Our staff and students use data visualisation of the results of their simulation and modelling code to present those results in a manner that greatly assists the interpretation of those data.

CSSM has a strong international reputation as a major contributor in the field of nuclear and particle physics.

Examples of our research include:

Journal of High-Energy Physics