amplituhedron:
An amplituhedron is a geometric structure introduced in 2013 by Nima Arkani-Hamed and Jaroslav Trnka. It enables simplified calculation of particle interactions in some quantum field theories. In planar N = 4 supersymmetric Yang–Mills theory, also equivalent to the perturbative topological B model string theory in twistor space, an amplituhedron is defined as a mathematical space known as the positive Grassmannian. [Wikipedia]
Noted in “The geometry that could reveal the true nature of space-time,” , NewScientist (29 July 2017, paywall):
Source: Theory Of Everything
It took Nima Arkani-Hamed and his team at the Institute of Advanced Studies (IAS) in New Jersey, including his then students Jaroslav Trnka and Bourjaily, to join the dots. Building on the seemingly esoteric work of pure mathematicians, the team arrived at a mind-boggling conclusion: the scattering amplitude calculated with the BCFW technique corresponds beautifully to the volume of a new mathematical object. They gave a name to this multi-dimensional concatenation of polyhedrons: the amplituhedron.
Now go out and drop this in casual conversation.
