Modeling nuclear weak-interaction processes with relativistic energy density functionals

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent advances in modeling nuclear weak-interaction processes using relativistic energy density functionals, focusing on charge-exchange excitations, neutrino reactions, and beta-decay rates relevant for astrophysics.

Contribution

It introduces new modeling approaches within relativistic energy density functionals for nuclear weak interactions, covering charge-exchange, neutrino reactions, and beta-decay calculations.

Findings

Improved understanding of charge-exchange excitations.

Enhanced modeling of neutrino-nucleus reactions.

More accurate beta-decay rate predictions for r-process nucleosynthesis.

Abstract

Relativistic energy density functionals have become a standard framework for nuclear structure studies of ground-state properties and collective excitations over the entire nuclide chart. We review recent developments in modeling nuclear weak-interaction processes: charge-exchange excitations and the role of isoscalar proton-neutron pairing, charged-current neutrino-nucleus reactions relevant for supernova evolution and neutrino detectors, and calculation of beta-decay rates for r-process nucleosynthesis.