No-Core Shell Model Analysis of Light Nuclei

TL;DR

This paper discusses an advanced ab initio no-core shell model/resonating-group method for accurately describing the structure and reactions of light nuclei, including scattering and fusion processes, with ongoing improvements like three-nucleon force inclusion.

Contribution

It introduces a novel combined approach that integrates the no-core shell model with the resonating-group method to better describe light nuclei reactions.

Findings

Successful application to light nuclei scattering and fusion

Progress in including three-nucleon forces

Enhanced microscopic description of nucleon clusters

Abstract

The fundamental description of both structural properties and reactions of light nuclei in terms of constituent protons and neutrons interacting through nucleon-nucleon and three-nucleon forces is a long-sought goal of nuclear theory. I will briefly present a promising technique, built upon the {\em ab initio} no-core shell model, which emerged recently as a candidate to reach such a goal: the no-core shell model/resonating-group method. This approach, capable of describing simultaneously both bound and scattering states in light nuclei, complements a microscopic cluster technique with the use of two-nucleon realistic interactions, and a microscopic and consistent description of the nucleon clusters. I will discuss applications to light nuclei binary scattering processes and fusion reactions that power stars and Earth based fusion facilities, such as the deuterium-$^3$He fusion, and outline the progress toward the inclusion of the three-nucleon force into the formalism and the treatment of three-body clusters.