Coulomb sum rule for $^4$He and $^{16}$O from coupled-cluster theory

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that coupled-cluster theory can accurately compute the Coulomb sum rule for light nuclei like $^4$He and $^{16}$O, supporting future neutrino interaction studies from first principles.

Contribution

It is the first to apply coupled-cluster theory to Coulomb sum rule calculations for medium-mass nuclei, including center-of-mass contamination analysis and comparison with experimental data.

Findings

Coupled-cluster theory successfully computes Coulomb sum rule for $^4$He and $^{16}$O.

Results show fair agreement with experimental data and other theoretical models.

Center-of-mass contamination can be effectively removed in calculations.

Abstract

We demonstrate the capability of coupled-cluster theory to compute the Coulomb sum rule for the $^4$He and $^{16}$O nuclei using interactions from chiral effective field theory. We perform several checks, including a few-body benchmark for $^4$He. We provide an analysis of the center-of-mass contaminations, which we are able to safely remove. We then compare with other theoretical results and experimental data available in the literature, obtaining a fair agreement. This is a first and necessary step towards initiating a program for computing neutrino-nucleus interactions from first principles and supporting the experimental long-baseline neutrino program with a state-of-the-art theory that can reach medium-mass nuclei.