Ab Initio Theory of Light-ion Reactions

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel ab initio approach combining the resonating-group method with the no-core shell model to accurately describe both bound and scattering states in light nuclei, addressing a longstanding challenge in nuclear physics.

Contribution

The paper presents a new ab initio many-body method that integrates cluster techniques with realistic interactions for simultaneous bound and scattering state calculations.

Findings

Successful description of neutron and proton scattering on light nuclei

First ab initio results for d-3He and d-3H fusion reactions

Demonstration of the method's capability to handle continuum states

Abstract

The exact treatment of nuclei starting from the constituent nucleons and the fundamental interactions among them has been a long-standing goal in nuclear physics. Above all nuclear scattering and reactions, which require the solution of the many-body quantum-mechanical problem in the continuum, represent a theoretical and computational challenge for ab initio approaches. After a brief overview of the field, we present a new ab initio many-body approach capable of describing simultaneously both bound and scattering states in light nuclei. By combining the resonating-group method with the ab initio no-core shell model, we complement a microscopic cluster technique with the use of realistic interactions and a microscopic and consistent description of the clusters. We show results for neutron and proton scattering on light nuclei, including p-7Be and n-8He. We also highlight the first results of the d-3He and d-3H fusion calculations obtained within this approach.