ORNL Physics Division: Theoretical and Computational Physics

Nuclear Theory and Astrophysics Theory

What We Do
The nuclear theory program is composed of research in low-energy nuclear structure, astrophysics, relativistic heavy-ion physics, and hadron spectroscopy. The nuclear structure and astrophysics programs are strongly tied to the physics carried out with the radioactive ion beam project in the ORNL Physics Division, while the relativistic heavy-ion program provides support and guidance for experimental programs at BNL. The hadron spectroscopy work supports programs at TJNAF.

Research in nuclear structure and astrophysics theory has expanded to take advantage of the new opportunities presented by the RIB facility. Investigations begun in this area include studies of drip-line properties, nuclear masses for astrophysics, high-spin states, beta decay, and electron capture using a variety of approaches including Hartree-Fock and Monte Carlo shell model. Numerical simulations of core-collapse supernova explosions, nucleosynthesis calculations, and calculations for nuclear reaction and particle emission from proton-rich nuclei are part of our effort in astrophysics.

In the area of relativistic heavy ions and hadron spectroscopy, we use string models of hadronic evolution and hadronization to understand RHIC collision phenomena, and quark models to investigate hadron structure, spectroscopy, and exotic hadronic states.

Nuclear Theory

Astrophysics Theory