Unexpected Rise in Nuclear Collectivity from Short-Range Physics
Journal article, 2026
We discover a surprising relation between the collective motion of nucleons within atomic nuclei, traditionally understood to be driven by long-range correlations, and short-range nucleon-nucleon interactions. Specifically, we find that quadrupole collectivity in low-lying states of Li6 and C12, calculated with state-of-the-art ab initio techniques, is significantly influenced by two opposing S-wave contact couplings that subtly alter the surface oscillations of one largely deformed nuclear shape, without changing that shape’s overall contribution within the nucleus. The results offer new insights into the nature of emergent nuclear collectivity and its link to the underlying nucleon-nucleon interaction at short distances.
Author
K. S. Becker
Louisiana State University
K. D. Launey
Louisiana State University
Andreas Ekström
Chalmers, Physics, Subatomic, High Energy and Plasma Physics
T. Dytrych
Nuclear Physics Institute
Louisiana State University
Daniel Langr
Czech Technical University in Prague
Grigor H. Sargsyan
Michigan State University
Jerry P. Draayer
Louisiana State University
Physical Review Letters
0031-9007 (ISSN) 1079-7114 (eISSN)
Vol. 136 2 022501Strong interactions for precision nuclear physics (PrecisionNuclei)
European Commission (EC) (EC/H2020/758027), 2018-02-01 -- 2023-01-31.
The strong nuclear interaction: governing the quantum properties of nuclei and the neutron-star equation of state
Swedish Research Council (VR) (2020-05127), 2021-01-01 -- 2022-12-31.
Ab initio emulation of atomic nuclei: Bayesian inference for unraveling the complexities of the strong nuclear interaction
Swedish Research Council (VR) (2024-04681), 2025-01-01 -- 2028-12-31.
Subject Categories (SSIF 2025)
Subatomic Physics
DOI
10.1103/c3st-tp13