Triangle Nuclear Theory Colloquium
Elena Litvinova, Western Michigan University
“Nuclear field theory in a relativistic framework: recent results on nuclear structure”
During the last decade, considerable progress of self-consistent nuclear structure theories based on quantum hadrodynamics (QHD) has shown that they represent a successful strategy toward a universal and precise description of low-energy nuclear dynamics. Driven by fast progressing disciplines like astrophysics, experimental studies of exotic nuclei and synthesis of superheavy elements, such theories have achieved a level of sophistication which permits a description of a wide range of properties for arbitrarily heavy nuclei including those at neutron and proton drip lines.

The objective of the presented work is to find self-consistent high-precision solutions of the nuclear many-body problem, which enable calculations of masses, matter and charge distributions, spectra, decay and reaction rates on equal footing. In particular, the mathematical apparatus for the nuclear response theory is advanced beyond the existing formulation as the quantum field theory for nucleons, mesons and emergent collective degrees of freedom using extra dimensions to account for nuclear superfluidity effects. The coupling between single-particle and collective degrees of freedom, coupling to the continuum and the formation of bubbles, skins and other exotic geometries can be included within the same framework. The theory allows for delicate interplay of various nucleon-nucleon correlations while the Lorentz invariance puts stringent restrictions on the number of parameters without reducing the quality of agreement with experimental data. A wide range of nuclear structure phenomena in medium-mass and heavy nuclei, including exotic ones, is described quite successfully. In this talk, recent developments and perspectives of the covariant nuclear field theory are discussed in light of its applications to present and future research topics at radioactive beam facilities and to astrophysics.