Theoretical Nuclear Physics

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It is now believed that the correct theory of the strong nuclear force is Quantum Chromodynamics (called QCD), the theory of quarks interacting with gluons to form hadrons, the observed particles of nuclear physics. The goals of our research are to study the structure of hadrons and atomic nuclei to investigate QCD and Electroweak theories. The hot early universe is believed to have consisted of a quark vapor that underwent a phase transition to form quark condensates and hadrons. We are studying the structure of these condensates as revealed in the properties of hadrons, to be tested at Jefferson Laboratory and other medium energy accelerators. Our studies of the weak nuclear force investigates aspects of quark condensates analagous to the susceptibility of ferromagnets. In collaborations with Chinese theorists we study glueballs, quarkless hadrons, to be tested at accelerators in the U.S., China and Europe. We are investigating hadrons at high temperature, with the hope that some characteristics of the early universe phase transition can be observed at the RHIC accelerator. As part of this research we develop models which can be used in the analysis of medium energy experiments.