What fields in particle astrophysics need computationalists?

[hadsed]

Two main questions here that google can't really help me with. Right now I do research in computational astrophysics (n-body simulations) and I think I like doing numerical simulations (I'm a pretty good programmer and I like to apply that to physics). I'm somewhat interested in particle physics, though I'm interested in particle astrophysics since I like astrophysics as well. I really wouldn't like to get into a field where there's fierce competition even for getting into Ph.D programs, let alone get jobs in them (not that I can't handle it, but why kill yourself when you can do something else that interests you?).

Anyway, I try looking up some particle astrophysics groups but I see a lot of observational stuff. To be honest, observational astronomy really isn't interesting to me at all, I really only care about the computational/theoretical physics. What fields are there in particle astrophysics that need computationalists?

Also, I'm interested in QCD because I read about lattice gauge theories and related stuff and it seems like a really interesting and highly computational field that I'd like to get into.How active is this area of research? Does it fall under some bigger category in particle physics (like CFT or something)? Is it just as competitive/impossible-to-get-into as other areas in particle physics? And just for good measure, are there any other fields in particle physics that are heavily computational?

 

[twofish-quant]

I really wouldn't like to get into a field where there's fierce competition even for getting into Ph.D programs, let alone get jobs in them (not that I can't handle it, but why kill yourself when you can do something else that interests you?).

Exactly what do you mean by particle astrophysics?

There competition to get into astrophysics programs isn't that much worse than any other field of physics. Graduate schools need large amounts of serf-labor, but that's a good thing because it encourages people to keep admissions open.

Also, I'm interested in QCD because I read about lattice gauge theories and related stuff and it seems like a really interesting and highly computational field that I'd like to get into.How active is this area of research?

Very.

 

[hadsed]

Exactly what do you mean by particle astrophysics?

I'm not exactly sure. I see it being used in the same context as high energy astrophysics. When I was applying to a few internships for this summer, I came across one project that involved studying dark matter annihilation around black holes. I'd assume that this falls in the realm of particle astrophysics (whatever that really means). What I'd really like to know is what these fields are, because I'm not too sure myself what constitutes particle astrophysics/astroparticle physics.

I also read that lattice field theories can be useful in condensed matter as well. I'm not totally against working in condensed matter like some people, I'd just like to do something interesting. Field theories interest me, and so do solving problems in physics numerically. So of course, if this is true, it might give me a better chance to do physics post-graduate school.