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Unexpected Rise in Nuclear Collectivity from Short-Range Physics

Kevin S. Becker1, Kristina D. Launey1, Andreas Ekström2, Tomáš Dytrych1,3, Daniel Langr4, Grigor H. Sargsyan5, and Jerry P. Draayer1

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Phys. Rev. Lett. 136, 022501 – Published 13 January, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/c3st-tp13

Abstract

We discover a surprising relation between the collective motion of nucleons within atomic nuclei, traditionally understood to be driven by long-range correlations, and short-range nucleon-nucleon interactions. Specifically, we find that quadrupole collectivity in low-lying states of Li6 and C12, calculated with state-of-the-art ab initio techniques, is significantly influenced by two opposing S-wave contact couplings that subtly alter the surface oscillations of one largely deformed nuclear shape, without changing that shape’s overall contribution within the nucleus. The results offer new insights into the nature of emergent nuclear collectivity and its link to the underlying nucleon-nucleon interaction at short distances.

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Phys. Rev. Lett. 136, 022501– Published 13 January, 2026
  • Received 12 March 2025
  • Accepted 9 October 2025
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