Nuclear theory sits at the fascinating intersection of particle physics and the forces that hold our universe together. This field explores how protons and neutrons bind inside atomic nuclei, seeking to understand the fundamental interactions that govern matter at its most dense and energetic levels. While the mathematics involved can be incredibly complex, the core questions are deeply human: how does the universe function at its smallest scales, and what happens when we push matter to its limits?

At Gist.Science, we make these cutting-edge discoveries accessible by processing every new preprint published in this category on arXiv. Our team transforms dense academic manuscripts into clear, plain-language summaries alongside detailed technical overviews, ensuring that both experts and curious readers can grasp the latest breakthroughs without getting lost in the jargon. Below are the latest papers in nuclear theory, distilled and ready for you to explore.

⚛️ phenomenology

JLab and J-PARC for the J/{\ensuremath{\psi}} Production at the Threshold

This paper synthesizes new threshold measurements of J/ψJ/\psi production from JLab experiments (007 and CLAS12) with previous GlueX data to confirm a consistent phenomenological determination of the J/ψJ/\psi-proton scattering length, while highlighting how upcoming J-PARC measurements will further clarify the systematic trend of vector meson-nucleon interactions predicted by the "young vector meson" hypothesis.

Igor I. Strakovsky (GWU), Jung Keun Ahn (Korea U.), William J. Briscoe (GWU), Misha G. Ryskin (PNPI), Axel Schmid (GWU)2026-03-11
⚛️ phenomenology

The eikonal spin-dependent Odderon and gluon Sivers function of a proton, and its small-xx evolution

This paper utilizes a three-quark light-front model to calculate the gluon Sivers function of a proton at moderately small xx and numerically determines its small-xx evolution via the BFKL anomalous dimension, revealing a power-law tail behavior of k3.3k_\perp^{-3.3} at high transverse momentum.

Sanjin Benić, Adrian Dumitru, Florian Hechenberger, Tomasz Stebel2026-03-11
⚛️ phenomenology

Does hot QCD have a conformal manifold in the chiral limit?

Based on recent lattice evidence and 't Hooft anomaly constraints, this paper proposes that the chiral phase transition in hot QCD for Nf2N_f \ge 2 massless flavors may be described by a conformal manifold of θB\theta_B-dependent universality classes featuring an exactly marginal operator related to baryon density, rather than a standard Ginzburg-Landau critical point.

Shi Chen, Aleksey Cherman, Robert D. Pisarski2026-03-11
⚛️ nuclear theory

Shear Viscosity and Electrical Conductivity of Rotating Nuclear Medium in Hadron Resonance Gas and Nambu-Jona Lasinio Models

This paper investigates how rotation influences the anisotropic shear viscosity and electrical conductivity of strongly interacting matter by employing kinetic theory within Hadron Resonance Gas and Nambu-Jona-Lasinio models, revealing that rotation suppresses chiral condensates, generates a sizable Hall-like conductivity, and reduces transport coefficients relative to isotropic cases.

Ashutosh Dwibedi, Dani Rose J Marattukalam, Nandita Padhan, Dushmanta Sahu, Jayanta Dey, Kangkan Goswami, Arghya Chatter (…)2026-03-10
🔬 physics

Generalized Gross-Pitaevskii Equation for 2D Bosons with Attractive Interactions

This paper introduces a generalized Gross-Pitaevskii equation with logarithmic density-dependent coupling to model 2D attractive Bose systems, enabling the theoretical analysis of quantum droplets, breathing modes, quench dynamics, and universal excited states while providing a robust framework for future experimental investigations.

Michał Suchorowski, Fabian Brauneis, Hans-Werner Hammer, Michał Tomza, Artem G. Volosniev2026-03-10
⚛️ phenomenology

Thermalization of Neutrinos in a Neutron Star Merger Simulation

This study demonstrates that while Monte Carlo neutrino transport in neutron star mergers confirms thermalization in hot, dense regions, significant non-equilibrium deviations in moderately warm zones reveal that energy-averaged agreement with thermal assumptions is insufficient for accurately predicting weak interaction rates and composition evolution.

Mark G. Alford, Liam Brodie, Francois Foucart, Alexander Haber2026-03-10
⚛️ nuclear theory

Kinetic Freeze-Out Conditions and Net Baryon Density in Au+Au Collisions at sNN=7.7\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 7.7--$39$ GeV within a Collective Flow Fireball Model

This study utilizes a covariant statistical fireball model to analyze Au+Au collisions at RHIC energies, revealing that longitudinal flow induces a kinematic degeneracy that artificially elevates kinetic freeze-out temperatures above the QCD crossover limit, thereby suggesting large longitudinal velocities are physically disfavored, while simultaneously identifying a net baryon density maximum below 11.5 GeV enhanced by dynamical flow.

Sk Noor Alam, Victor Roy2026-03-10