FRIB-TA Topical Program: Statistical Nuclear Properties in the AI/ML Era: Advances, Challenges, and Synergies for FRIB Science

Statistical nuclear properties, such as nuclear level densities and γ-ray strength functions, are essential inputs for modeling nuclear reactions and play a central role in predicting reaction rates relevant to astrophysics and nuclear stewardship. The unprecedented access to unstable and exotic nuclear systems enabled by FRIB, as well as other radioactive beam facilities, places new demands on theory and data analysis, requiring reliable, uncertainty-quantified statistical properties away from stability.

 

The aim of this topical program is to bring together experimentalists, theorists, and experts in modern statistical and data-driven methods to establish a coherent, predictive framework for statistical nuclear properties in the AI/ML era. The program will foster close interaction between experiment and theory, highlighting recent accomplishments while identifying and addressing current assumptions, challenges, and limitations in existing approaches. It will also emphasize systematic benchmarking of models and the integration of modern statistical and machine learning methods for uncertainty quantification and data interpretation. A key goal is to determine how different approaches can be combined to improve predictive power and guide future experimental and theoretical efforts at FRIB and complementary facilities.

 

The program will result in a review article outlining key challenges, synergies, and future directions. This article will summarize the main discussions, benchmarking efforts, and recommended strategies for improving the determination of statistical nuclear properties. In addition, the program will identify isotopes for which re-analysis of extracted level densities using multiple experimental techniques can provide important benchmarks, as well as best practices for assessing systematic and theoretically induced uncertainties. These outcomes will provide a roadmap for achieving robust estimates of statistical nuclear properties relevant to FRIB science.

The Topical Program is organized by the FRIB Theory Alliance and is made possible thanks to support by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Nuclear Physics, under the FRIB Theory Alliance award DE-SC0013617. For selected participants we hope to provide partial support which may include lodging and some meals. After registration has closed you will be contacted with the support we are able to provide. We will not provide support for transportation expenses.