Pion fields dominate the interactions within nuclei at not-too-short distances. A useful field theory of pions with the right symmetries is the Skyrme model. This has no fundamental nucleon fields, but it has soliton solutions called Skyrmions that represent protons and neutrons, and multi-soliton solutions that represent larger nuclei. When the key dynamical degrees of freedom are quantized, the nuclei acquire spin and isospin. The speaker will review the energetic and electromagnetic properties of several nuclear states within the Skyrme model, including work with Chris Lau on the ground rotational band and Hoyle state of Carbon-12. Some recent work with David Foster on polarized nucleon-nucleon collisions will also be mentioned.
About the speaker
Prof Nicholas Manton received his BA and PhD degree in Theoretical Physics from University of Cambridge in 1974 and 1978 respectively. He joined University of Cambridge in 1987 as a University Lecturer and is currently a Professor of Mathematical Physics.
Prof Manton’s research interests cover broad areas of theoretical and mathematical physics, in particular, classical and quantum field theory applied to particle and nuclear physics. The majority of his work has been on topological solitons in field theory, which include vortices, monopoles, instantons and Skyrmions. He proposed and developed the theory of non-relativistic soliton dynamics based on the geometry of soliton moduli spaces; this is called the geodesic approximation to soliton dynamics. Some recent work, using a variant of Ricci flow, has elucidated the Kähler geometry of vortex moduli spaces.
Prof Manton was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society and of the Institute of Physics in 1996, and was the Collingwood Lecturer at University of Durham in 1999 and St. John’s College Lecturer at University of Hull in 2005. Prof Manton also received the Blaise Pascal Award by University of Durham in 2010.
The lecture is free and open to all. Seating is on a first come, first served basis.
