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.

Quark-Mass Dependence of Light-Nuclei Masses from Lattice QCD and Trace-Anomaly Contributions to Nuclear Bindings

This paper presents lattice QCD calculations of light-nuclei masses across various quark masses to establish first-principles constraints on nuclear interactions and reveals that, while quark-mass contributions to binding energy are small and additive, the dominant contribution arises from the gluonic component via the QCD trace anomaly.

Debsubhra Chakraborty, Noah Chavez, Xiang Gao, Nilmani Mathur, Swagato Mukherjee2026-04-01⚛️ hep-lat

Ab initio optical potentials for magnesium isotopes: from stability to the island of inversion

This paper presents the first *ab initio* nonlocal optical potential calculations for magnesium isotopes (24,26,28,32^{24,26,28,32}Mg) using the symmetry-adapted no-core shell model and multiple-scattering theory, successfully reproducing experimental data for 24^{24}Mg and providing parameter-free predictions for heavier isotopes that validate global models near the N=20 island of inversion while highlighting their limitations.

G. H. Sargsyan, J. I. Fuentealba Bustamente, K. Beyer, Ch. Elster2026-04-01⚛️ nucl-th

Multi-task deep neural network for predicting both nuclear fission yields and their experimental errors in peak-shaped data

This paper introduces a multi-task deep neural network equipped with a novel loss function and odd-even effect incorporation to more accurately predict both nuclear fission product yields and their experimental errors in peak-shaped data compared to conventional independent learning methods.

Maomi Ueno, Enbo Zhang, Kazuma Fuchimoto, Satoshi Chiba, Jingde Chen, Chikako Ishizuka2026-04-01⚛️ nucl-th

Comment on "Lattice QCD constraints on the critical point from an improved precision equation of state"

This paper critiques a recent lattice QCD study that claims to exclude a QCD critical endpoint below μB450\mu_B \approx 450 MeV, arguing that the entropy-contour method used fails to directly probe critical singularities and therefore cannot provide model-independent constraints on the critical point's location.

Roy A. Lacey (Department of Chemistry, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA)2026-04-01⚛️ nucl-ex

Optimizing the description of the Delta region in the Ghent Hybrid model for single-pion production

This paper enhances the Ghent Hybrid model for single-pion production in the Delta resonance region by incorporating physical constraints such as Watson's theorem and KK-matrix unitarization, extending it with ρ\rho- and ω\omega-exchange diagrams, and demonstrating significant improvements in describing the Delta peak against CLAS electroproduction data.

M. Hooft, A. Nikolakopoulos, J. García-Marcos, Y. De Backer, T. Franco-Munoz, K. Niewczas, R. González-Jiménez, N. Jachowicz2026-04-01⚛️ nucl-th

Imprint of the adjoint meson spectrum in the decay patterns of hidden-bottom tetraquarks

This paper utilizes Born-Oppenheimer Effective Field Theory and lattice QCD calculations to demonstrate that the near-degeneracy and specific decay patterns of the hidden-bottom tetraquarks Zb(10610)Z_b(10610) and Zb(10650)Z_b(10650) arise from the degeneracy of their underlying light degrees of freedom, identified as 11^{--} and 0+0^{-+} adjoint mesons.

Sipaz Sharma, Juan Andrés Urrea-Niño, Nora Brambilla, Francesco Knechtli, Michael Peardon2026-04-01⚛️ hep-lat