Fast & rigorous predictions for $A=6$ nuclei with Bayesian posterior sampling

TL;DR

This paper presents ab initio predictions for A=6 nuclei using chiral effective field theory, Bayesian uncertainty quantification, and a new computational emulator, achieving precise results consistent with experimental data.

Contribution

It introduces JupiterNCSM, a new efficient shell model code, and applies Bayesian methods to quantify uncertainties in nuclear predictions based on chiral EFT interactions.

Findings

Predicted separation energies with quantified uncertainties.

Slight underbinding of ${}^{6} ext{He}$ and ${}^{6} ext{Li}$ consistent with experiments.

Potential for further error reduction with larger model spaces.

Abstract

We make ab initio predictions for the A = 6 nuclear level scheme based on two- and three-nucleon interactions up to next-to-next-to-leading order in chiral effective field theory ($\chi$EFT). We utilize eigenvector continuation and Bayesian methods to quantify uncertainties stemming from the many-body method, the $\chi$EFT truncation, and the low-energy constants of the nuclear interaction. The construction and validation of emulators is made possible via the development of JupiterNCSM -- a new M-scheme no-core shell model code that uses on-the-fly Hamiltonian matrix construction for efficient, single-node computations up to $N_\mathrm{max} = 10$ for ${}^{6}\mathrm{Li}$. We find a slight underbinding of ${}^{6}\mathrm{He}$ and ${}^{6}\mathrm{Li}$, although consistent with experimental data given our theoretical error bars. As a result of incorporating a correlated $\chi$EFT-truncation errors we find more precise predictions (smaller error bars) for separation energies: $S_d({}^{6}\mathrm{Li}) = 0.89 \pm 0.44$ MeV, $S_{2n}({}^{6}\mathrm{He}) = 0.20 \pm 0.60$ MeV, and for the beta decay Q-value: $Q_{\beta^-}({}^{6}\mathrm{He}) = 3.71 \pm 0.65$ MeV. We conclude that our error bars can potentially be reduced further by extending the model space used by JupiterNCSM.