Quantum Monte Carlo Methods for Nuclei at Finite Temperature

Abstract

We discuss finite temperature quantum Monte Carlo methods in the framework of the interacting nuclear shell model. The methods are based on a representation of the imaginary-time many-body propagator as a superposition of one-body propagators describing non-interacting fermions moving in fluctuating auxiliary fields. Fermionic Monte Carlo calculations have been limited by a ``sign'' problem. A practical solution in the nuclear case enables realistic calculations in much larger configuration spaces than can be solved by conventional methods. Good-sign interactions can be constructed for realistic estimates of certain nuclear properties. We present various applications of the methods for calculating collective properties and level densities.