Future of Nuclear Fission Theory

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent advances in nuclear fission theory, highlighting new conceptual and computational developments, and discusses their implications for astrophysics, superheavy elements, and neutrino physics.

Contribution

It summarizes key findings and recommendations from a 2019 workshop on innovative theoretical approaches to nuclear fission.

Findings

New theoretical avenues identified

Enhanced computational methods developed

Implications for astrophysics and fundamental physics discussed

Abstract

There has been much recent interest in nuclear fission, due in part to a new appreciation of its relevance to astrophysics, stability of superheavy elements, and fundamental theory of neutrino interactions. At the same time, there have been important developments on a conceptual and computational level for the theory. The promising new theoretical avenues were the subject of a workshop held at the University of York in October 2019; this report summarises its findings and recommendations.