Particle and Astroparticle Physics Seminar

Ab initio theory for fundamental problems in nuclear-weak physics

Jason Holt

TRIUMF

Ab initio theory for fundamental problems in nuclear-weak physics As science probes ever more extreme facets of the universe, the role of nuclear theory in confronting fundamental questions in nature continues to deepen. Long considered a phenomenological discipline, breakthroughs in many-body methods together with our treatment of nuclear and electroweak forces are rapidly transforming modern nuclear theory into a true first-principles, or ab initio, discipline.

In this talk I will discuss recent advances in many-body theory which expand the scope of ab initio calculations to essentially all properties of light, medium-mass nuclei and beyond. When based on consistently derived two- and three-nucleon forces and meson-exchange currents, these powerful approaches allow first predictions of structure properties to the tin isotopes, including the nuclear driplines into the medium-mass region and the evolution of magic numbers far from stability.

In particular I will focus on recent extensions to fundamental problems in nuclear-weak physics, including a proposed solution of the long-standing quenching puzzle in beta decays, ab initio calculations of neutrinoless double-beta decay, and WIMP-nucleus scattering cross sections relevant for dark matter direct detection searches.