Gamow Shell Model: The Unified Theory of Nuclear Structure and Reactions

The configuration-interaction approach for open quantum systems, the Gamow shell model, provides a unitary description of quantum many-body systems in different binding regimes, enabling the unification of nuclear structure and reactions. It extends and generalizes the nuclear shell model to weakly-bound near-threshold states and resonances, offering a systematic tool to understand and categorize nuclear spectra, moments, collective excitations, particle and electromagnetic decays, clustering, elastic and inelastic scattering cross sections, and radiative capture cross sections. The approach is of interest beyond nuclear physics and is based on general properties of quasi-stationary solutions of the Schrödinger equation. The book provides a historical overview of the field and includes worked examples and numerical codes to test different aspects of the continuum shell model.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 503 pages
Publication date: 25 April 2021
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

This comprehensive book offers a groundbreaking introduction to recent advancements that have shaped the configuration-interaction approach for open quantum systems. It delves into the Gamow shell model, a unitary framework that provides a comprehensive description of quantum many-body systems across various binding regimes. This model not only unifies the description of nuclear structure and reactions but also extends and generalizes the phenomenologically successful nuclear shell model to encompass weakly bound near-threshold states and resonances. By employing this systematic tool, researchers can gain a deeper understanding of nuclear spectra, moments, collective excitations, particle and electromagnetic decays, clustering, elastic and inelastic scattering cross sections, and radiative capture cross sections, all of which hold significant importance in astrophysics.

The approach underpinning the Gamow shell model is rooted in the study of quasi-stationary solutions of the Schrödinger equation, known as Gamow states. This approach holds significance beyond the realm of nuclear physics and is applicable to a wide range of systems. To cater to the needs of graduate students and newcomers to the field, the book provides a detailed introduction to quantum-mechanical fundamentals, ensuring a solid foundation for further exploration. Furthermore, the text offers a historical overview of the field's evolution, tracing its roots from the early days of the nuclear shell model to recent experimental developments in nuclear physics and related fields. This historical perspective supports the unified description of complex systems.

The book is enriched with numerous worked examples and includes numerical codes to facilitate hands-on testing of the continuum shell model discussed therein. These resources enhance the reader's comprehension and practical application of the concepts presented. By offering a comprehensive and accessible introduction to the configuration-interaction approach, the Gamow shell model, and its applications in astrophysics, this book serves as a valuable resource for scholars and researchers in the field.

Weight: 786g
Dimension: 155 x 234 x 33 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030693558
Edition number: 1st ed. 2021