Few-body correlations in nuclear systems

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Gerd Röpke
• Subject Area: Nuclear and Elementary Particle Physics, Quantum Mechanics, Relativity, Fields ; Astrophysics and Astronomy
• Term: from 2019 to 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 422826161

The properties of light elements (2H, 3H, 3He, 4He) are modified when they are imbedded in a nuclear medium. Within a quasiparticle approach, the energies of the clusters are dependent on the center of mass momentum as well as the density, the temperature, and the asymmetry of the surrounding medium. At present, these quasiparticle energy shifts are calculated assuming an uncorrelated medium. We calculate the shifts taking into account correlations in the medium (i.e. the composition) in a self-consistent way. A precise calculation of in-medium few-nucleon correlations is an important ingredient for the evaluation of the composition and the equations of state of nuclear matter. It can be applied in astrophysics to describe compact objects (supernovae, neutron stars) as well as in the investigation of heavy-ion collisions. Few-nucleon correlations, in particular alpha clustering, is of interest in nuclear structure physics. We investigate alpha-like correlations (quartets) near the surface of heavy nuclei. In particular, the alpha preformation factor is calculated for the alpha-decay of heavy nuclei, e.g., of the polonium isotopes.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants