My basic training is in nuclear
structure. In short, I solve the Schrodinger equation for the atomic
nucleus, computing energy levels and wavefunctions. This is an enormously
difficult task, so there are many approximations made, and even then the
results are heavily computational.
I generally work in the framework
of the interacting shell model, either by Lanczos diagonalization (with the
shell model codes Glasgow or REDSTICK) or with Hartree-Fock plus the random
phase approximation (using the code SHERPA written by my former student Dr.
Stetcu).
I also am using
averaging methods
to look at secular behavior of highly excited nuclei; I am using this to
compute nuclear level densities, which are needed to model statistical
capture of neutrons. This is a joint project with Lawrence Livermore
National Laboratory, and my postdoc, Dr. Teran, is running most of the
calculations.
Ultimately I am very interested
in applications to astrophysics, such as computing nuclear masses and weak
transitions rates needed for nucleosynthesis and neutrino interactions. I am
also starting a new project with Professor Weber, looking at the equation of
state for dense nuclear matter in a mean-field approximation, but allowing
the Fermi surface to be deformed.
Please see my
CV for my training and my
list of papers
for more information on my research.