Theoretical Nuclear Physics

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In this proposal, theoretical models will be used to study heavy collisions at various energies as well as nuclear reactions induced by photons and other elementary particles. Using an improved isospin-dependent transport model, that includes different dynamics for protons and neutrons, collisions of rare isotopes at current accelerators and the proposed Rare Isotope Accelerator (RIA) will be studied in order to find the dependence of experimental observables, such as the two-nucleon correlation functions and the yield of light clusters, on the properties of nuclear matter with different proton and neutron numbers. With a refined multi-phase transport model, that includes both initial interactions among quarks and gluons and final interactions among ordinary hadrons as well as the transition between these two phases of matters, ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) will be studied in order to identify the signatures of the produced quark-gluon plasma and to study its properties through observables such as the collective dynamics of produced particles, the electromagnetic radiations, the abundance of hadrons consisting of multi-strange or heavy charm quarks, the suppressed production of energetic particles, and the even-by-event fluctuations. Also, effective hadronic models will be extended to study exotic pentaquarkbaryons from photo- and hadron-nucleon reactions in the experiments carried out at the Jefferson National Laboratory (JLAB) and elsewhere in order to determine their properties and structures. The proposed research will not only have direct impact on the researchprograms at RIA, RHIC, and JLAB but also adds greatly to our understanding of astrophysical phenomena such as supernova explosions, neutron star properties, and of how matter is formed from the primordial quark-gluon plasma during the evolution of the early universe. It further offers young students and postdoctoral researchers a broad research experience that includes methods ranging from quantum field theory to statistical mechanics and involving both analytical work and numerical computation. These experiences will prepare them well for careers in either nuclear science or other areas to continue their contributions to the scientific and technological advance in our society.