Anthropic Claude breaks physics record with nine-loop calculation

Anthropic has announced that its AI model, Claude, has successfully solved a complex theoretical physics problem involving nine-loop scattering amplitudes in N=4 super Yang-Mills theory. This achievement surpasses the previous human record, which was held at eight loops.

The challenge originated from a public provocation by former particle physicist and science writer Matt von Hippel, who challenged the AI industry to solve unresolved enigmas within a reasonable computational budget. Using a specialized system called Claude Science, the model operated autonomously for several days following a single prompt to calculate the results for six particles at nine loops.

To verify the results, researchers utilized the bootstrap method, a technique similar to solving Sudoku by eliminating incorrect options based on physical laws. The AI successfully produced results using two different physical methods: the original bootstrap method and the indirect shape factor method. Physicist Lance Dixon, whose team previously held the eight-loop record at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, noted that the achievement underscores the potential for large language models to disrupt the field of theoretical physics.