Sign-Problem-Free Nuclear Quantum Monte Carlo Simulation
Quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) methods offer exact solutions for quantum many-body systems but face severe limitations in fermionic systems like atomic nuclei due to the sign problem. While sign-problem-free QMC algorithms exist and provide valuable insights across disciplines, they have been restricted to simple models with limited quantitative predictive power. Here we overcome this barrier by developing a novel lattice nuclear force that is rigorously sign-problem-free for even-even nuclei. This interaction achieves a standard deviation of σ=2.932 MeV from experimental binding energies for 76 even-even nuclei (N,Z≤28), matching state-of-the-art phenomenological mean-field models. Key innovations include the first sign-problem-free implementation of spin-orbit coupling for shell evolutions and an efficient QMC-optimized framework for global parameter fitting. Using this approach, we compute binding energies from ^{4}He to ^{132}Sn with unprecedented one-thousandth level numerical precision, reproduce symmetric nuclear matter saturation, and reveal novel spin-orbit-driven clustering in light nuclei. This Letter transforms sign-problem-free QMC simulation into a scalable and predictive nuclear structure tool, while establishing a high-fidelity, nonperturbative foundation for ab initio calculations of heavy nuclei.
Authors
- Bing-Nan Lu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7890-4948)
- Zhong-Wang Niu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-0841-3786)
Institutions
- China Academy of Engineering Physics (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Physical Review Letters
- Published
- 2025-11-26
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1103/pn99-6dxt
- Citations
- 2
- Primary Topic
- Nuclear physics research studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 3.74