Yang Sun

Visiting Associate Professor,
Theoretical Nuclear Physics and Nuclear Astrophysics

Research Interests
One of the frontiers in nuclear physics is the study of nuclei far from stability. This is of great interest to Astrophysics and Nuclear Physics. Unstable nuclei are involved in various astrophysical events in hot and explosive scenarios. The understanding of new astrophysical data depends increasingly on our understanding of the relevant structure for short-lived
nuclei that drive the evolution and energy production in stars and galaxies. To access the short-lived nuclei experimentally, a major project has recently been proposed by the U.S. nuclear physics community as part of the Nuclear Physics Long Range Plan. This is an $800M project for construction of the RIA (Rare Isotope Accelerator). Professor Sun's theoretical work is crucial to the studies of the nuclei to be produced by
RIA.

Professor Sun's major contribution to the modern nuclear structure theory and computation is made through his work on developing the Projected Shell Model. This model combines the advantages of the nuclear shell model and the mean-field theories, and has become a standard method for analyzing experimental data. The algorithms developed for the Projected Shell Model can have a broad application in shell model calculations for heavy nuclei.

Interdisciplinary research has been his interest as well. In the new research field of quantum information, Professor Sun has established a collaboration with Tsinghua University in Beijing to conduct the study of quantum algorithms in computation and data-base searching. He also applies the many-body theories, in particular the group theory method, to the current problems of high-temperature superconductivity.

Professor Sun has great enthusiasm for developing advanced technologies for collaborative learning and distance learning. His educational applications over the past three years have employed a variety of modern technologies and computer languages: HTML, Javascript, Java, Director+Lingo, and Flash+Actionscript. The subjects include Astronomy, Biology, Genetics and Microbiology. The products are either complete web-deliverable science courses or alone-standing modules in CDs, which are all structured by integrated interactive
animations.

Selected Publications

"SU(3) Symmetry and Scissors Mode Vibrations in Nuclei," Y. Sun, C.-L. Wu, K. Bhatt and M. Guidry, Nucl. Phys. A703 (2002) 130.

"Nuclear Magnetic Dipole Properties and the Triaxial Deformation," Y. Sun, J.A. Sheikh and G.-L. Long, Phys. Lett. B533 (2002) 253.

"Efficient Scheme for Initializing a Quantum Register with an Arbitrary Superposed State,"
G.-L. Long and Y. Sun, Phys. Rev. A64 (2001) 014303.

"SU(4) Model for High-Temperature Superconductivity and Antiferromagnetism," M. Guidry, L.-A. Wu, Y. Sun and C.-L. Wu, Phys. Rev. B63 (2001) 134516.

"Anomalous Rotational-Alignment in N=Z Nuclei and Residual Neutron-Proton Interaction,"
Y. Sun and J.A. Sheikh, Phys. Rev. C64 (2001) 031302(R).

"Theoretical Constraints for Observation of Superdeformed Bands in the Mass-60 Region,"
Y. Sun, J.-y. Zhang, M. Guidry and C.-L. Wu,Phys. Rev. Lett. 83 (1999) 686.

• Full curriculum vitae (pdf)
• Please contact physics@nd.edu if a html or other version is needed.