The theoretical nuclear physics group at the University of Iowa consists of three faculty members, Professors G. L. Payne, W. H. Klink, and W. N. Polyzou, and one graduate student, Tom Allen. The primary focus of our research program is to obtain a better understanding of systems of strongly interacting particles and the current operators that couple these systems to leptonic probes. We use systems consisting of only a few nucleons or quarks to test the accuracy and validity of models for these systems. The Hamiltonian for a few-body system acts on a model Hilbert space for which the number of degrees of freedom is small enough that the bound or scattering problem can be solved numerically to any desired accuracy. This approach requires the construction of both internally consistent models for the interactions and electromagnetic currents, and the development of computer algorithms and codes which are used for precise numerical calculations. The models are constructed by first determining the physical constraints imposed by relativistic invariance, cluster properties, and current conservation on the currents and interactions; then incorporating these constraints along with the basic physics to formulate realistic models for few-body nuclear reactions which can be used for comparison with experimental data. We have written a number of efficient and reliable computer codes which can be used to make these comparisons. In addition, new codes are being written to study relativistic effects in nuclear systems.
Much of our work is done in collaboration with physicists at other institutions. G. L. Payne has a long-standing collaboration with J. L. Friar and B. F. Gibson from Los Alamos National Laboratory. This collaboration has resulted in many significant advances in our understanding of the tri-nucleon system. Dr. F. Coester from Argonne National Laboratory is a regular visitor to the department, and he is working with W. N. Polyzou and W. H. Klink on a number of projects. This collaboration has led to many substantive achievements such as realistic relativistic models of electron-deuteron scattering and a solution of the cluster separability problem for many-body relativistic systems. W. N. Polyzou has also been working for many years with Dr. B. D. Keister, now at the National Science Foundation, on various aspects of relativistic quantum mechanics. Finally, Prof. W. Glockle of Bochum University is working with G. L. Payne and W. N Polyzou on several problems associated with three-body systems.
The nuclear theory group participates in a joint weekly seminar with the particle theory group. Seminars are normally held every Wednesday afternoon and all students are welcome to attend.
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William Klink |
Gerald Payne |
Wayne Polyzou |
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