YANG–MILLS THEORY IN, BEYOND, AND BEHIND OBSERVED REALITY

The primary interactions of Yang–Mills theory [1] are visibly embodied in hard processes, most directly in jets. The character of jets also reflects the deep structure of effective charge, which is dominated by the influence of intrinsically non-Abelian gauge dynamics. These proven insights into fundamental physics ramify in many directions, and are far from being exhausted. I will discuss three rewarding explorations from my own experience, whose point of departure is the hard Yang–Mills interaction, and whose end is not yet in sight. Given an insight so profound and fruitful as Yang and Mills brought us, it is in order to try to consider its broadest implications, which I attempt at the end.