Eur. Phys. J. A 13, 69-74 (2002)

Frontiers and challenges of the nuclear shell model

T. Otsuka^{1, 2}, Y. Utsuno³, R. Fujimoto¹, B.A. Brown⁴, M. Honma⁵ and T. Mizusaki<sup>6

1</sup>  Department of Physics, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
²  RIKEN, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako-shi, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
³  Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute, Tokai, Ibaraki, 319-1195, Japan
⁴  National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
⁵  Center for Mathematical Sciences, University of Aizu, Tsuruga, Ikki-machi, Aizu-Wakamatsu, Fukushima 965-8580, Japan
⁶  Department of Law, Senshu University, Higashimita, Tama, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, 214-8580, Japan

(Received: 1 May 2001)

Abstract
Two recent developments of the nuclear shell model are presented. One is a breakthrough in computational feasibility owing to the Monte Carlo Shell Model (MCSM). By the MCSM, the structure of low-lying states can be studied with realistic interactions for a wide, nearly unlimited basically, variety of nuclei. The magic numbers are the key concept of the shell model, and are shown to be different in exotic nuclei from those of stable nuclei. Its novel origin and robustness will be discussed.

PACS
21.60.Cs - Shell model.
21.30.Fe - Forces in hadronic systems and effective interactions.
13.75.Cs - Nucleon-nucleon interactions (including antinucleons, deuterons, etc.).
21.10.-k - Properties of nuclei; nuclear energy levels.

© Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag 2002