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.

⚛️ nuclear theory

Extracting Barrier Distributions from Fusion Cross Sections

This paper demonstrates that Bayesian neural networks outperform Gaussian processes in extracting fusion barrier distributions from experimental cross-section data by providing more faithful reconstructions with quantified uncertainties, while also identifying key regions for future experimental impact and highlighting that the fidelity of all methods depends primarily on the magnitude of experimental uncertainties.

Aaron Philip2026-07-09
⚛️ nuclear experiments

Single inclusive hadron and jet production in lepton-hadron scattering

This paper presents the first calculation of single inclusive hadron and jet production at large transverse momentum in lepton-hadron scattering using a joint QCD+QED factorization framework, which introduces universal lepton distribution functions with combined evolution kernels and provides predictions for experiments at Jefferson Lab and the future Electron-Ion Collider.

Jian-Wei Qiu, Kazuhiro Watanabe2026-07-09
⚛️ nuclear theory

Pair Transfer and Reaction Dynamics in 40,48^{40,48}Ca + 96^{96}Zr Collisions Below the Coulomb Barrier

This study employs time-dependent superfluid density functional theory (TDSLDA) to demonstrate that pairing correlations significantly enhance two-neutron transfer probabilities in the K=0K=0 channel during sub-barrier 40,48^{40,48}Ca + 96^{96}Zr collisions, successfully reproducing experimental enhancement factors and confirming the critical role of nuclear superfluidity in reaction dynamics.

Ibrahim Abdurrahman, Andrzej Makowski, Guillaume Scamps, Kyle Godbey, Piotr Magierski2026-07-08
⚛️ nuclear theory

Relativistic Vorticity in the Quark-Gluon Plasma: Generation Symmetries, Explosive Dilution, and Azimuthal Spin Alignment

This paper demonstrates that the explosive relativistic expansion of the Quark-Gluon Plasma naturally suppresses vortex amplification through geometric dilution, leading to a near-vanishing global hyperon polarization and necessitating azimuthal differential measurements to detect the medium's extreme vorticity.

Malak Ait Tamlihat (Mohammed V University), Ghizlane Ez-Zobayr (Mohammed VI Polytechnic University), Laurent Schoeffel ( (…)2026-07-08
⚛️ nuclear theory

Full configuration interaction quantum Monte Carlo for accurate ab initio\textit{ab initio} nuclear structure calculations: algorithms and calculation details

This paper presents a detailed application of Full Configuration Interaction Quantum Monte Carlo (FCIQMC) to *ab initio* nuclear structure calculations using chiral effective field theory interactions, validating the method against deterministic benchmarks and demonstrating its capability to compute ground-state properties and low-lying spectra in large model spaces.

Rongzhe Hu, Furong Xu, Baishan Hu, Ali Alavi2026-07-08
⚛️ nuclear theory

Full Uncertainty Quantification of Sign-Problem-Free Quantum Monte Carlo Methods and Nuclear Lattice Effective Field Theory Benchmarks

This paper presents a comprehensive uncertainty analysis of sign-problem-free Quantum Monte Carlo methods and Nuclear Lattice Effective Field Theory, demonstrating that ground-state energies of doubly magic nuclei are computed with sub-percent precision while refuting recent criticisms by identifying and correcting conceptual and technical errors in previous analyses regarding lattice artifacts and renormalization.

Zhong-Wang Niu, Bing-Nan Lu, Shuang Zhang, Yuan-Zhuo Ma, Serdar Elhatisari, Dean Lee, Ulf-G. Meißner2026-07-08
⚛️ nuclear theory

Compact star and compact star matter properties from a baryonic extended linear sigma model with explicit chiral symmetry breaking

Using a baryonic extended linear sigma model with explicit chiral symmetry breaking, the study demonstrates that reproducing realistic neutron star mass-radius relations with hyperons requires the vacuum πN\pi N sigma term to deviate significantly from empirical values, suggesting a possible density dependence of low-energy constants in dense matter.

Yao Ma, Yong-Liang Ma, Lu-Qi Zhang2026-07-07
⚛️ nuclear experiments

Resolution-matched nuclear geometry and the nucleon-size ambiguity in relativistic heavy-ion collisions

This paper resolves the ambiguity between nuclear structure and collision dynamics in relativistic heavy-ion collisions by demonstrating that matching the resolution of nuclear geometry to finite-resolution interactions eliminates nucleon-size dependence in cross-section calculations, thereby reframing these measurements as sensitive probes of the nuclear surface rather than standalone nucleon-size observables.

Hao-jie Xu2026-07-07