The triton lifetime from nuclear lattice effective field theory

TL;DR

This paper calculates the triton beta-decay lifetime using Nuclear Lattice Effective Field Theory at high order, achieving consistent results and demonstrating the method's potential for precise nuclear decay predictions.

Contribution

It introduces a non-perturbative NLEFT approach at N3LO for triton beta decay, advancing systematic nuclear decay calculations.

Findings

Results align with previous theoretical predictions.

Demonstrates robustness of NLEFT in nuclear beta decay.

Lays groundwork for high-precision nuclear decay studies.

Abstract

In this work, we present a calculation of the triton $\beta$-decay lifetime using Nuclear Lattice Effective Field Theory (NLEFT) at next-to-next-to-next-to-leading order in the chiral expansion. By incorporating a non-perturbative treatment of the higher-order corrections, we achieve consistent predictions for the Fermi and Gamow-Teller matrix elements, which are crucial for determining the triton lifetime. Our results are consistent with earlier theoretical calculations, confirming the robustness of our approach. This study marks a significant advancement in the systematic application of NLEFT to nuclear $\beta$-decay processes, paving the way for future high-precision calculations in more complex nuclear systems. Additionally, we discuss potential improvements to our approach, including the explicit inclusion of two-pion exchange mechanisms and the refinement of three-nucleon forces. These developments are essential for extending the applicability of NLEFT to a broader range of nuclear phenomena, including neutrinoless double-$\beta$ decay.