Neutron Skin Thickness of Neutron-Rich Nuclei
Dr. Carlos Bertulani
Dr. Carlos A. Bertulani is an internationally recognized theoretical nuclear physicist, with over 400 peer-reviewed publications, whose research spans nuclear reactions, structure, and astrophysics. His work focuses on understanding the equation of state (EoS) of nuclear matter through studies of fragmentation, fission, and collective excitations in rare isotopes.
By combining reaction theory, such as Glauber and eikonal models, with modern nuclear density functionals and Bayesian inference methods, Dr. Bertulani's research provides key insights into neutron-rich systems and their implications for neutron star properties. His investigations extend to photonuclear reactions, vector meson production, and nuclear tomography in ultra-peripheral collisions at facilities like GSI/FAIR, RIKEN, FRIB, and the EIC, aiming to connect terrestrial nuclear experiments with astrophysical observables. Dr. Bertulani is engaged in computational modeling, including large-scale Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov (HFB) and Relativistic Mean Field (RMF) calculations, Lorentz-invariant coupled-channel codes for GeV/nucleon reactions, and simulations of (p,2p) and photon-induced processes. His group employs modern computational and machine learning techniques to extract neutron skins, constrain symmetry energy parameters, and interpret data from exotic nuclei.
Student Projects
This project aims to study the neutron skin thickness of neutron-rich nuclei as an observable for constraining the density dependence of the symmetry energy in the nuclear Equation of State (EoS). The student will use theoretical models and experimental data from multiple frontiers, electron scattering at the upcoming Electron-Ion Collider (EIC), nuclear fragmentation reactions at intermediate energies, and ultra-peripheral heavy-ion collisions (UPCs) at the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC). These complementary approaches probe different aspects of the same underlying physics: the distribution of neutrons and protons in nuclei and their response to electromagnetic and strong interactions. By combining data from EIC photoabsorption and coherent scattering processes with measurements of electromagnetic dissociation and vector meson production in UPCs, the project will provide an integrated view of neutron skin formation mechanisms and their dependence on nuclear density and asymmetry.
What You Will Do
The student will develop computational and analytical tools to extract neutron skin thicknesses and symmetry energy parameters from these reactions using Glauber and eikonal models, relativistic mean-field (RMF) and Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov (HFB) densities, and Bayesian statistical techniques. Comparisons between electron-induced reactions at the EIC and photonuclear fragmentation at the LHC will allow for a novel cross-validation of the EoS at sub- and supra-saturation densities. The ultimate goal is to establish a consistent theoretical framework that connects laboratory observables to neutron star structure and dynamics, providing crucial constraints on the pressure and stiffness of neutron-rich matter. This project will train the student in advanced nuclear reaction theory, computational modeling, and data-driven inference, positioning them to contribute to one of the most active areas in modern nuclear physics.