Ph.D. in Nuclear & Theoretical Physics

University of Tehran (2015 – 2020)

Research Fields:

Nuclear Lattice Effective Field Theory (Nuclear Lattice EFT): 

Nuclear Lattice EFT is a computational approach that combines the principles of effective field theory (EFT) with lattice methods to study the structure and interactions of atomic nuclei. In this framework, nucleons (protons and neutrons) are treated as point-like particles placed on a discrete space-time lattice, where interactions are governed by the symmetries of quantum chromodynamics (QCD), particularly chiral symmetry. This allows for systematic calculations of nuclear forces, few-body interactions, and larger nuclear systems by incorporating low-energy degrees of freedom while avoiding the complexity of full QCD. Through space-time discretization and Monte Carlo simulations, Nuclear Lattice EFT provides an ab initio method for understanding nuclear properties, such as binding energies, scattering cross-sections, and response functions. Its applications span nuclear astrophysics, neutron star studies, and heavy-ion collisions.

Exotic Hadrons & QCD Sum Rules (QCDSR): 

The QCD Sum Rules (QCDSR) method is a theoretical framework used to study the properties of hadrons—particles made of quarks and gluons—within QCD, the theory of strong interactions. Developed by Shifman, Vainshtein, and Zakharov in the late 1970s, QCDSR bridges the gap between the fundamental quark-gluon dynamics and the observable hadronic spectrum. It relies on the operator product expansion (OPE) of quark current correlation functions and the use of dispersion relations to connect short-distance (perturbative) with long-distance (non-perturbative) physics. Non-perturbative aspects are captured through QCD vacuum condensates, reflecting the complex nature of the QCD vacuum. By comparing theoretical predictions with experimental data or phenomenological inputs, QCD Sum Rules can extract hadron masses, decay constants, and other properties. This approach is particularly useful for studying challenging systems, including heavy quarkonium, exotic states, and hadrons in extreme conditions.