Lattice Effective Field Theory for Radiative Capture Reactions

从量子色动力学（QCD）的基本理论出发研究核的相互作用和性质是核物理研究的一个中心目标。然而，在低能量下，QCD变成非线性的和强相互作用的，避开了核性质的第一性原理纸上计算。低能核物理的一个重要方面是与弱束缚系统相关的物理学。这些系统的某些性质在原子、核和粒子物理学中是普遍共有的。有效场论（EFT）公式允许系统地计算深深植根于QCD的核性质。EFT允许可靠的误差估计，否则难以估计的唯象方法的计算。在所支持的研究工作中，将构建涉及电磁辐射的少体系统的EFT。将研究与大爆炸核合成和恒星燃烧有关的涉及轻核的关键反应。其中一些反应在解释粒子物理学标准模型之外的实验结果方面发挥着重要作用。拟议的工作还将引入新的模型独立工具，具有可靠的误差估计，以研究晕核。这些原子核被描述为一个紧密结合的核心，通常有一个或两个价中子形成晕。这项研究与美国计划对稀有同位素束实验的重大投资有关。该研究的更广泛影响包括培训物理学研究生从事数值和分析工作，以造福社会的学术或工业职业。这项研究工作的成果将纳入研究生课程。由于上述的普遍性，原子物理学研究也将受到弱束缚少体系统研究的影响。具有大散射长度的原子系统构成了理论和实验研究的活跃领域。

The study of nuclear interactions and properties from the underlying theory of Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) represents a central goal in nuclear physics research. At low energies, however, QCD becomes non-linear and strongly interacting, eluding first-principle pencil-and-paper calculations of nuclear properties. An important aspect of nuclear physics at low energy is the physics associated with weakly bound systems. Some properties of such systems are universally shared across atomic, nuclear and particle physics. The effective field theory (EFT) formulation allows for systematic calculations of nuclear properties that are deeply rooted in QCD. EFT allows reliable error estimates in calculations that are otherwise difficult to estimate in phenomenological approaches. In the supported research work, EFT for few-body systems involving electromagnetic radiation would be constructed. Key reactions involving light nuclei that are relevant in Big Bang Nucleosynthesis and stellar burning would be studied. Some of these reactions play an important role in interpreting experimental results probing physics beyond the Standard Model of particle physics. The proposed work would also introduce new model-independent tools with reliable error estimates to study halo nuclei. These nuclei are described as a tightly bound core with usually one or two valence neutrons forming a halo. This research ties in with planned major U.S. investment in rare isotope beam experiments. Broader impacts of the research include training of physics graduate students in numerical and analytical work for an academic or industry career benefiting society. Results from this research work would be incorporated in a graduate course. Atomic physics research would also be affected by this study of weakly bound few-body systems due to the universality described above. Atomic systems with large scattering lengths form an active field of theoretical and experimental research.