In the realm of nuclear physics and energy research, a team of scientists from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has made significant strides in developing a more efficient computational method for solving scattering problems. The researchers, M. Catacora-Rios, Kyle Beyer, Pablo Giuliani, Kyle Godbey, Richard J. Furnstahl, and Filomena Nunes, have introduced a new approach that could potentially revolutionize the way we understand and predict nuclear reactions, which are crucial for various energy applications, including nuclear power and radiation shielding.
The team’s work, titled “Wavefunction-Based Emulation of Coupled-Channels Scattering with Non-Affinely Parametrized Interactions,” focuses on creating a reduced-basis emulator for coupled-channel scattering problems. This method, known as CC-RBM, is an extension of previous work that developed a similar emulator for single-channel elastic scattering. The researchers applied this new framework to reactions where the Hamiltonian coupling term is derived from a rotational structure model for the target.
The CC-RBM method involves using a set of training coupled-channel wavefunctions to perform a singular value decomposition, which results in a reduced set of basis wavefunctions. The researchers then solve the extended (Petrov-)Galerkin equations and use the empirical interpolation method to expand the potentials. They applied this method to elastic and inelastic scattering of neutrons on calcium-48 and lead-208, demonstrating that the CC-RBM calculated cross sections matched those obtained using traditional finite-difference methods.
One of the most significant findings of this research is that the CC-RBM method offers a substantial gain in computational speed—roughly one and a half orders of magnitude—compared to traditional coupled-channels solvers for the precision required in reaction calculations. This increased efficiency could lead to faster and more accurate predictions of nuclear reactions, which are essential for various energy applications. However, the researchers also noted that this scaling becomes less favorable as the number of channels included in the coupled-channel set increases.
The research was published in the journal Physical Review C, a reputable source for nuclear physics research. This work not only advances our understanding of nuclear reactions but also paves the way for more efficient and accurate computational methods in the energy sector. As we continue to explore new energy sources and improve existing ones, the insights gained from this research could prove invaluable in optimizing nuclear processes and ensuring the safe and efficient use of nuclear energy.
In summary, the development of the CC-RBM method represents a significant step forward in the field of nuclear physics and energy research. By providing a faster and more reliable way to solve scattering problems, this method could help us better understand and predict nuclear reactions, ultimately leading to more efficient and sustainable energy solutions.
This article is based on research available at arXiv.