Symmetry in Nuclear Physics: The Shell Model

Abstract

While in the previous chapter symmetry techniques were presented from a general perspective with potential applications in all fields of quantum physics, in this chapter we turn our attention to atomic nuclei. Symmetry considerations have played an important role in nuclear physics, starting from the birth of the discipline, and have continued to do so throughout its development. A comprehensive overview of all such applications would be a gargantuan task and no attempt at that is made here. Our aim is rather to present in this chapter some of the most important developments of symmetry-based models in nuclear physics (including early ones) from a modern and coherent perspective. The early models are due to Wigner, Racah, and Elliott, and can be considered as precursors to the more modern ones such as the interacting boson model of Arima and Iachello.