The Renormalization Group in Nuclear Physics

TL;DR

This paper discusses how modern renormalization group techniques combined with effective field theory are transforming nuclear physics by simplifying interactions and addressing many-body forces in systems from deuterons to neutron stars.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of the application of RG and EFT methods in nuclear physics, including flow equations and the treatment of many-body forces.

Findings

Flow equations simplify nuclear interactions.

RG methods address many-body forces.

Applications range from deuteron to neutron stars.

Abstract

Modern techniques of the renormalization group (RG) combined with effective field theory (EFT) methods are revolutionizing nuclear many-body physics. In these lectures we will explore the motivation for RG in low-energy nuclear systems and its implementation in systems ranging from the deuteron to neutron stars, both formally and in practice. Flow equation approaches applied to Hamiltonians both in free space and in the medium will be emphasized. This is a conceptually simple technique to transform interactions to more perturbative and universal forms. An unavoidable complication for nuclear systems from both the EFT and flow equation perspective is the need to treat many-body forces and operators, so we will consider these aspects in some detail. We'll finish with a survey of current developments and open problems in nuclear RG.