Perturbative QCD

Perturbative Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) is a framework used to understand the strong force, which binds quarks and gluons inside protons and neutrons. In perturbative QCD, physicists study interactions by treating them as small disturbances, allowing calculations using mathematical series expansions. This approach works well at high energy levels where quarks and gluons behave nearly freely, enabling precise predictions for processes like particle collisions. However, it becomes less effective at low energies, where the strong force becomes very strong, making quarks confined within hadrons. Thus, perturbative QCD is essential for high-energy particle physics investigations.