Nuclear Theory Group

Our group carries out a broad research program in nuclear and atomic theory, focusing on quantum many-body systems, and in particular strongly-interacting systems of many fermions that exhibit universal features relevant to nucleons and atoms. In addition, we work on high-energy nuclear physics, non-perturbative aspects of QCD, fundamental symmetries, and quantum information science.

The Nuclear Theory Group is supported by the US Department of Energy, Office of Science and National Nuclear Security Administration.

UW Physics Department

Institute for Nuclear Theory (INT)

InQubator for Quantum Simulation (IQuS)

Particle Theory

Center for Experimental Nuclear Physics and Astrophysics (CENPA)

Thouless Institute for Quantum Matter (TIQM)

Seminars and Colloquia

INT/NTG Brownbag seminar

UW Physics Seminars and Colloquia

S@INT Seminar

Rising Reseachers Seminar

IQuS Seminars

Current Members

Gerald A. Miller

Professor of Physics

publications

I work on many aspects of theoretical nuclear physics, including its overlaps with particle phenomenology and atomic physics. Current interests include proton structure, effects of QCD in nuclei, effective field theory approaches to nuclei, studies of fundamental symmetries in nuclei, and nuclear reaction theory at low energies.

Aurel Bulgac

Professor of Physics

publications

I work on quantum many-body physics and related systems. My research is lately focused on the structure, phase transitions and dynamic properties of strongly interacting systems of many fermions, typically nucleons and cold atoms. I employ a wide spectrum of many-body techniques, among them: quantum Monte Carlo for evaluation of path integrals and density functional theory.

Silas R. Beane

Professor of Physics

publications

My research is focused on nuclear theory, broadly defined, including the study of few- and many-body systems using effective field theory (EFT) and lattice gauge theory techniques, as well as new methods from quantum information science and artificial intelligence. Currently I am using non-relativistic conformal field theory and other EFTs to study physical systems of importance in nuclear and atomic physics.

Mary Alberg

Affiliate Professor of Physics

(Professor Emerita, Seattle U)

publications

My work in nuclear theory is focused on the study of hadron structure and interactions. Topics have included exotic atoms, strangeness production in proton-antiproton interactions, and the determination of parton momentum and spin distributions in the proton, pion and kaon. Current interests are the evolution of these distributions to different experimental scales for comparison to lattice calculations and global parton distribution fits to experimental data.

Sebastian Grieninger

Acting Assistant Professor

Publications

My research focuses on nonperturbative aspects of quantum field theories and on developing quantum computational approaches to these problems. I use Hamiltonian simulations to study quantum field theories and entanglement in high-energy and nuclear physics. I am also interested in how ideas from gravity and holography can inspire new ways of thinking about quantum information and quantum computation.

Michael J. Cervia

Postdoctoral Scholar

Publications

I investigate how quantum information and algebraic tools can help better understand nuclear many-body physics. Recent topics that I have explored include collective flavor oscillations of neutrinos from dense astrophysical environments, and Hamiltonian formulations of gauge theories to simulate on quantum computers. Reciprocally, I design quantum algorithms for nuclear theoretical problems as well as more general applications, overlapping with condensed matter physics and quantum chemistry.

Alexis Nikolakopoulos

Postdoctoral Scholar

Neutrino Theory Network @ FNAL

Publications

I study electroweak interactions with nucleons and nuclei. Recent work includes forbidden transitions for low-energy neutrino scattering, final-state interactions in one nucleon knockout, and pion production on nucleons and nuclei. I provide calculations of neutrino-nucleus cross sections used in the analysis of current and future neutrino scattering experiments, and contribute to the development of neutrino event generators.

Matthew Kafker

Graduate Student

Personal web page Publications

My research is focused on the quantum many-body problem, specifically the theory of systems of many interacting fermions. I use density functional theory, in conjunction with high performance computing, to study the structure and dynamics of atomic nuclei, with a particular emphasis on nuclear fission.

Dmitriy N. Kim

Graduate Student

Publications

My research is focused on nuclear theory and its overlaps with particle phenomenology — working towards understanding the interplay between nuclear physics and QCD. Using theories that approximate QCD at low energies, I work on understanding how the momenta of partons inside nucleons are modified when placed inside a nuclear environment.