The Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory has achieved a groundbreaking milestone in nuclear physics. By harnessing the power of the Frontier supercomputer, they have cracked a critical challenge: accurately predicting nuclear structure and…
Atomic Nuclei: Frontier Supercomputer’s Nuclear Science Breakthrough
Scientists have made a breakthrough in understanding the complex world of atomic nuclei! Using advanced quantum many-body theory, researchers have successfully modeled the behavior of nuclei, including those near the limits of nuclear binding. This is a huge leap forward, especially considering the challenge of describing the various energy scales involved, from the hundreds of MeV in binding energies to fractions of a MeV for low-lying collective excitations.
A Multiscale Mystery Solved
Atomic nuclei are incredibly complex. They exhibit multiple energy scales, and their behavior changes dramatically as you approach the neutron and proton drip lines – the boundaries of nuclear stability. Traditionally, understanding this was difficult because we lacked a framework that accurately captured both the short-range and long-range forces governing these particles.
Bridging the Gap Between Theory and Experiment
This new research tackles this challenge head-on. By combining sophisticated theoretical models with experimental data, scientists can now accurately predict the behavior of these intricate structures. The study focused on Neon-30, a nucleus known to exhibit both spherical and deformed shapes – a phenomenon not easily explained by traditional models.
The Power of Chiral Effective Field Theory
The breakthrough relies on the use of chiral effective field theory (CEFT) to model the nuclear forces. CEFT provides a framework to describe the strong nuclear force, taking into account both two-nucleon and three-nucleon interactions. This level of detail is critical for accurately capturing the complex interplay of forces within the nucleus.
The Role of Exascale Computing
This breakthrough was made possible by using exascale computing, which refers to systems capable of performing over a quintillion calculations per second! The Frontier supercomputer is the first in the world to achieve this level of power. By performing millions of calculations at various energy levels, researchers could accurately model how particles interact within a nucleus.
Unveiling Coexisting Shapes
One of the most exciting findings is the confirmation of coexisting spherical and deformed shapes in Neon-30. This reveals a fascinating interplay of forces within the nucleus, demonstrating the limitations of simpler models. Further, the research predicts that nuclei near the drip lines will exhibit strong deformation and collective behavior.
Impact on Future Research
This research isn’t just about understanding Neon-30. The methods developed have far-reaching implications for the entire field of nuclear physics. These techniques open up possibilities to study other complex nuclei and unravel the mysteries of their structures and behavior. Moreover, the computational methods can be applied to other quantum systems, including molecules and atom clusters.
Reference
- Sun, Z. H., Ekström, A., Forssén, C., Hagen, G., Jansen, G. R., & Papenbrock, T. (2025). Multiscale Physics of Atomic Nuclei from First Principles. Physical Review X, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevx.15.011028
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Neha Adikane holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Science from Pune University, bringing a unique blend of scientific expertise and creative writing skills to her craft. She specializes in creating engaging, insightful, and impactful content across various niches. With a passion for translating complex ideas into simple, relatable narratives, she excels at crafting blogs, articles, website content, and social media posts that captivate readers and drive engagement. Neha’s background in environmental science adds depth to her writing, allowing her to effectively cover topics related to sustainability, eco-awareness, and scientific innovations.