Nuclear Energy Density Optimization: UNEDF2

TL;DR

The paper presents the development and optimization of the UNEDF2 nuclear energy density functional, including sensitivity analysis, revealing current limitations and the need for new approaches in nuclear modeling.

Contribution

It introduces the UNEDF2 functional with optimized parameters based on diverse experimental data and performs sensitivity analysis to assess uncertainties and correlations.

Findings

UNEDF2 is a versatile and accurate EDF model.

Sensitivity analysis shows current Skyrme-like EDFs have reached their limits.

Novel approaches are necessary for further improvements.

Abstract

The parameters of the UNEDF2 nuclear energy density functional (EDF) model were obtained in an optimization to experimental data consisting of nuclear binding energies, proton radii, odd-even mass staggering data, fission-isomer excitation energies, and single particle energies. In addition to parameter optimization, sensitivity analysis was done to obtain parameter uncertainties and correlations. The resulting UNEDF2 is an all-around EDF. However, the sensitivity analysis also demonstrated that the limits of current Skyrme-like EDFs have been reached and that novel approaches are called for.