Researchers from the Université Libre de Bruxelles, including G. Grams, W. Ryssens, A. Sánchez-Fernández, N. N. Shchechilin, L. González-Miret Zaragoza, P. Demol, N. Chamel, S. Goriely, and M. Bender, have developed a new nuclear structure model that could have implications for understanding nuclear processes relevant to the energy sector, particularly in nuclear power and astrophysics.
The team introduced BSkG5, the latest model in the Brussels-Skyrme-on-a-Grid (BSkG) series, which is the first large-scale nuclear structure model based on next-to-next-to-leading order (N2LO) Skyrme energy density functional (EDF). This model extends the traditional Skyrme EDF ansatz by including central terms with up to four gradients. This extension allows for a more accurate global description of nuclear ground state properties while also providing a stiff equation of state for pure neutron matter that aligns with astronomical observations of neutron stars.
The new model, BSkG5, achieves high accuracy with fewer parameters than previous models. It has root-mean-square deviations of 0.649 MeV for 2457 atomic masses, 0.0267 fm for 810 charge radii, and 0.43 MeV for 45 primary fission barriers of actinide nuclei. This level of precision is comparable to earlier BSkG models but with two fewer parameters, demonstrating that the complexities of N2LO EDFs can be managed effectively even for demanding many-body calculations.
The practical applications of this research for the energy sector include improved understanding and modeling of nuclear reactions, which are crucial for nuclear power generation. Accurate nuclear structure models can enhance the safety and efficiency of nuclear reactors by providing better predictions of nuclear behavior. Additionally, insights into neutron star properties can inform research on advanced nuclear fuels and waste management. The research was published in the journal Physical Review C.
This article is based on research available at arXiv.