Random matrices and chaos in nuclear physics: Nuclear reactions

Journal Article · Fri Oct 15 04:00:00 EDT 2010 · Reviews of Modern Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/REVMODPHYS.82.2845· OSTI ID:22038537

Mitchell, G E; Richter, A; Weidenmueller, H A ^[1]

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1. North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695 (United States) and Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory, Durham, North Carolina 27706 (United States)

The application of random-matrix theory (RMT) to compound-nucleus (CN) reactions is reviewed. An introduction into the basic concepts of nuclear scattering theory is followed by a survey of phenomenological approaches to CN scattering. The implementation of a random-matrix approach into scattering theory leads to a statistical theory of CN reactions. Since RMT applies generically to chaotic quantum systems, that theory is, at the same time, a generic theory of quantum chaotic scattering. It uses a minimum of input parameters (average S matrix and mean level spacing of the CN). Predictions of the theory are derived with the help of field-theoretical methods adapted from condensed-matter physics and compared with those of phenomenological approaches. Thorough tests of the theory are reviewed, as are applications in nuclear physics, with special attention given to violation of symmetries (isospin and parity) and time-reversal invariance.

• OSTI ID: 22038537
• Journal Information: Reviews of Modern Physics, Journal Name: Reviews of Modern Physics Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 82; ISSN 0034-6861; ISSN RMPHAT
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
CHAOS THEORY
COMPOUND NUCLEI
CYANIDES
NUCLEAR PHYSICS
NUCLEAR REACTIONS
PARITY
RANDOMNESS
S MATRIX
SCATTERING
STATISTICAL MODELS
SYMMETRY
T INVARIANCE