Research in Strong-Interaction Theory

在稀有同位素束流设备上进行的实验点燃了人们对原子核物理学的新兴趣，这些实验打开了通往奇异原子核新区域的大门；通过对中子星和超新星的天体物理观测和模拟，这需要对核物质的密度、温度和质子分数的状态方程进行有控制的外推；通过对宇宙物理的研究，将冷原子和稀中子物理结合起来。该奖项资助的项目通过结合有效场论和重整化群方法来解决这个物理问题，有效场论提供了核力的系统扩展，包括重要的三体力，重整化群方法将麻烦的高能贡献与我们想要描述的低能部分解耦。结果是受控计算，可以更好地利用计算能力的稳定改进。本科生、研究生和博士后研究人员在开展拟议活动时所接受的培训，直接有助于建设一支多样化的科学队伍。分析和数值计算的结合为学术和工业研究提供了很好的准备。强调物理系统的普遍方面，通过有效的场理论和重整化小组方法，以及技术直接应用于核领域以外的问题，导致加强学科之间的合作。外展工作将把互动科学带给广泛的俄亥俄州居民。

Renewed interest in the physics of nuclei is fueled by experiments at rare isotope beam facilities, which open the door to new regions of exotic nuclei; by astrophysical observations and simulations of neutron stars and supernovae, which require controlled extrapolations of the equation of state of nucleonic matter in density, temperature, and proton fraction; and by studies of universal physics, which unite cold atom and dilute neutron physics. The projects funded by this award address this physics by combining effective field theory, which provides a systematic expansion of nuclear forces including the important three-body forces, and renormalization group methods, which decouple troublesome high-energy contributions from the low-energy parts we want to describe. The results are controlled calculations that can better exploit the steady improvements in computing power.The training received by undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral research associates in carrying out the proposed activities contributes directly to the building of a diverse scientific workforce. The mix of analytical and numerical computation employed is excellent preparation for both academic and industrial research. The emphasis on universal aspects of physical systems, fostered by effective field theory and renormalization group approaches, as well as the direct application of techniques to problems beyond the nuclear domain, leads to enhanced collaborations between disciplines. Outreach efforts will bring interactive science to a wide range of Ohio residents.