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 experiments

Studying baryon number transport dynamics via hyperon-kaon correlations in p+Aup + \mathrm{Au} collisions at sNN=20\sqrt{s_{_{\rm NN}}}=20, $39$ and $62$ GeV

This paper utilizes AMPT and UrQMD models to simulate hyperon-kaon correlations in p+Aup + \mathrm{Au} collisions at 20, 39, and 62 GeV, establishing a baseline without baryon junction mechanisms to test theories of baryon number transport and strange quark pair correlations.

Siyuan Ping, Xiaozhou Yu, Long Ma2026-07-07
⚛️ nuclear theory

Global systematics and theoretical interpretation of ll-forbidden M1M1 transitions in odd-AA nuclei

This paper presents a comprehensive systematic study of ll-forbidden M1M1 transitions in odd-AA nuclei, utilizing a relativistic Dirac wave function framework to establish a robust linear correlation between transition amplitudes and empirical single-particle matrix elements, thereby quantifying the role of configuration mixing in these processes.

Yu-kun Li, Guang-xin Zhang, Chong Qi2026-07-07
⚛️ nuclear theory

Evaluation of U-235 and U-238 Fission Product Yields Using Bayesian Neural Networks: Comparison of Baseline and Physics-Informed Models

This paper demonstrates that a physics-informed Bayesian neural network (BNN3), which incorporates physical features like the odd-even effect, beta-decay energy, and isospin, significantly outperforms a baseline model in predicting U-235 and U-238 fission product yields with higher accuracy, better agreement with experimental data, and narrower confidence intervals.

Chun-Yuan Qiao, Ya-Xuan Wang, Jun-Chen Pei, Chun-Wang Ma, Yong-Jing Chen, Jin-Gen Chen, Jie Pu, Kai-Xuan Cheng, Yu-Ting (…)2026-07-07
⚛️ nuclear theory

Relativistic Hydrodynamics and Vorticity Dynamics in High-Energy Heavy-Ion Collisions: A Collective Flow Perspective

This paper reviews the application of relativistic hydrodynamics to heavy-ion collisions, detailing how initial spatial eccentricities evolve into anisotropic flow coefficients via multi-particle correlations while analyzing the geometric dilution of vorticity and its impact on spin alignment observables.

Malak Ait Tamlihat, Ghizlane Ez-Zobayr, Laurent Schoeffel, Yahya Tayalati2026-07-07
⚛️ nuclear experiments

SS matrices of elastic nn-16^{16}O scattering at low energies in cluster effective field theory

This study employs cluster effective field theory to successfully model the elastic nn-16^{16}O scattering SS matrices across seven spin-partial wave channels by fitting thirty-four parameters to ENDF/B-VIII.0 data, thereby providing insights into resonance uncertainties and the astrophysical SS factor for the 13^{13}C(α\alpha,nn)16^{16}O reaction.

Shung-Ichi Ando2026-07-07
⚛️ nuclear experiments

r-Process Nucleosynthesis With Ab Initio Nuclear Masses Around The N=82 Shell Closure

This study demonstrates that ab initio nuclear mass calculations using the valence-space in-medium similarity renormalization group can refine r-process nucleosynthesis predictions around the N=82 shell closure, revealing a strengthened waiting point that slows the nucleosynthesis flow and significantly alters the abundance patterns of heavy elements compared to phenomenological models.

Jan Kuske, Takayuki Miyagi, Almudena Arcones, Achim Schwenk2026-07-03
⚛️ nuclear theory

Determining the dynamic deformation of 140^{140}Ce by constraining coupled-channels parameters for fusion

This study systematically determines the dynamic deformation parameters of 140^{140}Ce by combining experimental fusion data with Gaussian analytic-barrier and coupled-channels analyses across multiple projectile systems, revealing that the extracted quadrupole and octupole deformations are robust and effectively validated by their ability to reproduce fusion excitation functions and barrier distributions in the 28^{28}Si+140^{140}Ce reaction.

Chandra Kumar, Rohan Biswas, J. Gehlot, Gonika, A. Parihari, N. Madhavan, A. Vinayak, Amritraj Mahato, S. Nath2026-07-03