Embedded Random Matrix Ensembles to Statistical Shell Model: Operation of $q$-normal forms

Embedded random matrix ensembles operating in nuclear shell model spaces, with nucleons occupying a finite set of single particle orbits and interacting via a two-body interaction, form the basis for statistical shell model. With sufficiently strong interaction, the level densities in shell model spaces take close to a Gaussian form and transition strength distributions close to a bivariate Gaussian form. In practice, partitioning via spherical configurations ($\tilde{m}$) and angular momentum $J$ (also isospin where appropriate) are essential. The resulting statistical spectroscopy or statistical shell model was applied successfully in the past in some studies of nuclear level densities, orbit occupancies, $\beta$-decay matrix elements and so on. Going beyond these, recently it is recognized that embedded ensembles, in a better approximation, generate in-fact $q$-normal form ($q=1$ gives Gaussian and $q=0$ Wigner's semi-circle) for density of eigenvalues, bivariate $q$-normal form for transition strengths and conditional $q$-normal form for strength functions. These then allow us to develop statistical shell model with $q$-normal forms. These new developments in embedded ensembles and statistical shell model are briefly reviewed in this paper. Also described, using some examples, is the role of the $q$ parameter in generating statistical properties of general quantum many-particle systems.