It appears that the scattering amplitudes in Quantum Chromodynamics (theory of strong interactions) can be exactly calculated in certain limiting cases (e.g. in the so-called multi-Redge kinematics). This is possible due to remarkable connections of this problem to the theory of integrable systems based on the Yang-Baxter equation. 

At the honours level the project will focus on the review of known results for calculation of scattering amplitudes and Wilson loop integrals in gauge theories and their string theory description in terms of minimal surfaces in the anti-de-Sitter space. 

At the Masters and PhD levels the project will aim to generalise existing results to other cases by using new solutions of the Yang-Baxter equation.

Literature

1. J.Bartels, L.N.Lipatov and A.Prygarin, "Integrable spin chains and scattering amplitudes,'' J. Phys. A, 44, 454013 (2011),  arXiv:1104.0816 [hep-th]

Advanced level courses in maths and theoretical physics