Similarity renormalization group for nuclear forces

Abstract

Renormalization group methods generate low-resolution Hamiltonians that are more diagonal, with reduced coupling between low- and high-energy states, and thus easier to solve. This chapter reviews the similarity renormalization group for nuclear Hamiltonians, which is a popular method for generating low-resolution nuclear forces. It presents the similarity renormalization group flow equations, analyzes how the similarity renormalization group drives the Hamiltonian towards the diagonal, and studies the effect of induced many-body interactions. It concludes by highlighting the progress in first-principles calculations of nuclei driven by low-resolution nuclear Hamiltonians.

15 pages, 6 figures, invited pedagogical chapter submitted to Encyclopedia of Nuclear Physics (Elsevier, 1st Edition), accepted version