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

Probing the onset of hydrodynamization in peripheral p-Pb collisions at sNN=\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 5.02 TeV

Using the JETSCAPE event generator to simulate peripheral p-Pb collisions at 5.02 TeV, this study estimates the minimum size for Quark-Gluon Plasma hydrodynamization by analyzing elliptic flow fluctuations, which indicate a breakdown of fluid behavior at a charged-particle multiplicity of approximately dN/dy≈14dN/dy \approx 14.

Nikhil Hatwar, Sadhana Dash, Basanta Kumar Nandi2026-05-26
⚛️ nuclear theory

In-medium effects of nucleon-nucleon cross sections in heavy-ion collisions

Using the isospin-dependent Boltzmann-Uehling-Uhlenbeck transport model with Brueckner-Hartree-Fock cross sections, this study demonstrates that accurately describing in-medium effects in heavy-ion collisions requires accounting for the interplay between scattering amplitude, density of states, and total momentum dependence, as these factors differentially influence observables like nuclear stopping and pion yields while leaving others like the n/pn/p ratio relatively insensitive.

Shuochong Han, Xinle Shang, Wei Zuo, Gaochan Yong, Ang Li2026-05-26
⚛️ lattice

Theoretical Signatures of QCD Phase Transitions in Compact Astrophysical Systems

This paper combines lattice QCD, effective field theories, and multimessenger constraints to model first-order QCD phase transitions in neutron stars, predicting distinctive signatures such as twin star branches and delayed gravitational-wave frequency shifts that, while marginally consistent with current data, offer testable predictions for next-generation detectors like the Einstein Telescope.

Debarshi Mukherjee2026-05-26
⚛️ nuclear theory

Relativistic Dispersion Spectra across Lorentz boosted frames: Spurious modes and the enigma of causality

This paper introduces a general framework for deriving linearized dispersion spectra in Lorentz boosted frames using only local rest-frame data, revealing the emergence of causality-violating "spurious modes" and establishing a direct link between mode conservation and the causality of relativistic fluid theories.

Sayantani Bhattacharyya, Sukanya Mitra, Shuvayu Roy, Rajeev Singh2026-05-26
⚛️ lattice

Possible Existence of ϕ3^3_ϕH, ϕ4^4_ϕH, ϕ4^4_ϕHe, and ϕ5^5_ϕHe Nuclei

Motivated by recent HAL QCD simulations, this study employs a first-principles few-body framework to predict the existence of deeply and moderately bound ϕ\phi-mesic nuclei (ϕ4H^4_\phi\mathrm{H}, ϕ4He^4_\phi\mathrm{He}, and ϕ5He^5_\phi\mathrm{He}), demonstrating that strong short-range attraction in the 2S1/2^2S_{1/2} ϕN\phi N channel is the key binding mechanism.

Rimantas Lazauskas, Roman Ya. Kezerashvili, Igor Filikhin2026-05-26