Halo Nuclei from Ab Initio Nuclear Theory
Abstract
A realistic description of halo nuclei, characterized by low-lying breakup thresholds, requires a proper treatment of continuum effects. We have developed an ab initio approach, the no-core shell model with continuum (NCSMC), capable of describing both bound and unbound states in light nuclei in a unified way. With chiral two- and three-nucleon interactions as the only input, we can predict structure and dynamics of halo and other light nuclei and, by comparing to available experimental data, test the quality of chiral nuclear forces. We review NCSMC calculations of weakly bound states and resonances of exotic halo nuclei He, B, Be, and C. For the latter, we discuss its production in the capture reaction C(n,)C. We highlight challenges of a description of He as a Borromean n-n-He system. Finally, we present calculations of excited states in Be exhibiting a one-neutron halo structure and a large scale no-core shell model investigation of Li as a precursor of a full n-n-Li NCSMC study.
Cite
@article{arxiv.2604.02612,
title = {Halo Nuclei from Ab Initio Nuclear Theory},
author = {Petr Navratil and Sofia Quaglioni and Guillaume Hupin and Michael Gennari and Kostas Kravvaris},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2604.02612},
year = {2026}
}
Comments
26 pages, 16 figures, minor revision