Quantum Monte Carlo Calculations of Light Nuclei

Abstract

Accurate quantum Monte Carlo calculations of ground and low-lying excited states of light p-shell nuclei are now possible for realistic nuclear Hamiltonians that fit nucleon-nucleon scattering data. At present, results for more than 30 different (J^pi;T) states, plus isobaric analogs, in A \leq 8 nuclei have been obtained with an excellent reproduction of the experimental energy spectrum. These microscopic calculations show that nuclear structure, including both single-particle and clustering aspects, can be explained starting from elementary two- and three-nucleon interactions. Various density and momentum distributions, electromagnetic form factors, and spectroscopic factors have also been computed, as well as electroweak capture reactions of astrophysical interest.Comment: 43 pages, including 12 embedded figures. Revised version corrects postscript error on page 29 and small numberical errors in discussion of table 3. With permission from the Annual Review of Nuclear and Particle Science. Final version of this material is scheduled to appear in the Annual Review of Nuclear and Particle Science Vol. 51, to be published in December 2001 by Annual Reviews, http://AnnualReviews.or