Thursday 23 January 2025
Physicists have long been fascinated by the mysteries of nuclear reactions, where atomic nuclei interact and collide in a dance of energy and matter. But these interactions are notoriously difficult to predict, as they involve complex mathematical calculations that can only be approximated using computers.
Now, a team of researchers has developed a new approach that could revolutionize our understanding of nuclear reactions. By applying a technique called complex scaling, they have been able to calculate the energies of nuclear states with unprecedented accuracy.
Complex scaling is a mathematical trick that allows physicists to transform the Hamiltonian operator, which describes the energy of a system, into a form that can be easily solved using computers. This is particularly useful for calculating the energies of nuclear states, which are notoriously difficult to predict due to the complexity of the interactions involved.
The new approach uses a combination of complex scaling and the no-core shell model, which is a theoretical framework that describes the behavior of atomic nuclei. By applying this technique to a range of different nuclei, the researchers were able to calculate their energies with unprecedented accuracy.
One of the key advantages of the new approach is its ability to describe the properties of nuclei in a more detailed and accurate way than previous methods. This could have significant implications for our understanding of nuclear reactions, as well as for the development of new nuclear technologies.
For example, the researchers were able to calculate the energies of several different nuclei with unprecedented accuracy, including the nucleus of carbon-12, which is a key component of all living things. They also calculated the properties of heavier nuclei, such as oxygen-16 and magnesium-24, which are important for understanding the behavior of stars.
The new approach could have significant implications for our understanding of nuclear reactions, as well as for the development of new nuclear technologies. For example, it could be used to design more efficient nuclear reactors, or to develop new methods for generating nuclear power.
Overall, the researchers’ work represents a major breakthrough in our understanding of nuclear physics, and could have significant implications for a wide range of fields.
Cite this article: “New Approach Reveals Accurate Energies of Nuclear States”, The Science Archive, 2025.
Nuclear Reactions, Complex Scaling, Hamiltonian Operator, No-Core Shell Model, Atomic Nuclei, Nuclear States, Energy Calculations, Nuclear Physics, Nuclear Technologies, Quantum Mechanics.
