Emergent symmetries in atomic nuclei: Probing nuclear dynamics and physics beyond the standard model

Abstract

Dominant shapes naturally emerge in atomic nuclei from first principles, thereby establishing the shape-preserving symplectic Sp(3, $\mathbb{R}$) symmetry as remarkably ubiquitous and almost perfect symmetry in nuclei. We discuss the critical role of this emergent symmetry in enabling machine-learning descriptions of heavy nuclei, ab initio modeling of $\alpha$ clustering and collectivity, as well as tests of beyond-the-standard-model physics. In addition, the Sp(3, $\mathbb{R}$) and SU(3) symmetries provide relevant degrees of freedom that underpin the ab initio symmetry-adapted no-core shell model with the remarkable capability of reaching nuclei and reaction fragments beyond the lightest and close-to-spherical species.