The Continuing Search for a Better Nuclear Hamiltonian

A primary goal of theoretical nuclear physics is to find a nuclear Hamiltonian (or class of Hamiltonians) that can describe nucleon-nucleon scattering data, the structure and reactions of nuclei, and the stability of nuclear matter and neutron stars.

Such models can be used to predict new nuclear phenomena and provide the essential nuclear structure background for the interpretation of experimental results in astrophysics and high-energy physics.

I will discuss calculations for binding energies, electromagnetic moments, electroweak transitions, and other nuclear properties, as well as nuclear and neutron matter, designed to test nuclear Hamiltonians and their associated electroweak currents, and hopefully indicate how to continue to improve our effective nuclear force models.