Research & Technical Contributions

Advancing the frontiers of nuclear physics through rigorous simulation, spectral modelling, and applied many-body theory.

Core Research Pillars

Pillar 01: Fundamental Symmetries

Weak Axial-Vector Coupling (\(g_A\)) & Beta-Decay Precision

Leading high-precision investigations into weak axial-vector coupling (\(g_A\)) quenching and nuclear matrix elements, with a dedicated focus on small nuclear matrix elements (sNME). A central pillar of my research is the exact theoretical generation and distribution of beta spectral shapes for selected isotopes, pushing the worldwide frontier in forbidden non-unique cases. While these advanced theoretical frameworks have broad implications for rare-event physics such as neutrinoless double-beta decay (\(0\nu\beta\beta\)) experiments and nuclear reactor decay heat calculations, my primary focus remains mastering the complex nuclear many-body dynamics governing forbidden non-unique transitions.

gA Quenching sNME Calculations Forbidden Non-Unique Spectra

Global Research Frontier

Pioneering the theoretical derivation of forbidden non-unique beta spectral shape distributions, providing high-fidelity nuclear matrix elements for complex transitions worldwide.

Primary Focus: Forbidden Non-Unique Decays

Pillar 02: Underground Detector Backgrounds

Natural Underground Earth Radiation & Background Modelling

In deep underground liquid xenon time projection chambers (TPCs), natural underground earth radiation originating from the radon chain (specifically ²¹⁴Pb) represents an irreducible background. Crucially, ²¹⁴Pb undergoes a first-forbidden non-unique beta decay, connecting directly back to my primary theoretical focus. I provide exact theoretical derivations of these complex spectral shapes to establish highly accurate background models. This precise modelling is essential for international collaborations to calibrate out natural earth radiation when searching for potential dark matter interactions.

Natural Earth Radiation Radon Chain (²¹⁴Pb) First-Forbidden Non-Unique

Verified Milestone

Official adoption of ²¹⁴Pb beta-decay modelling by the PandaX-4T dark matter collaboration. This milestone research is currently under review in Nature.

Collaborations: PandaX-4T, XENONnT

Pillar 03: Clinical & Medical Dosimetry

Targeted Radionuclide Therapy & Clinical Translation

A core future direction of my research is translating the exact theoretical methodologies established in Pillars 1 and 2 directly into clinical medical physics. In targeted radionuclide therapy, standard dosimetry models frequently rely on default approximations that render the calculated beta spectra of therapeutic isotopes like ¹⁷⁷Lu inaccurate. To bridge this gap, my preliminary research on ⁶⁷Cu demonstrated that implementing even subtle theoretical refinements, specifically the allowed exchange correction, produces a quantifiable difference in voxel-level Geant4 dosimetry. This foundational proof-of-concept drives my active vision for clinical translation. Although recent grant applications to the Wellcome Trust and CRUK were not awarded, both expert panels explicitly recognized the high scientific merit and potential of the proposed research, encouraging its further development within a dedicated clinical oncology environment.

Targeted Radionuclide Therapy ¹⁷⁷Lu Clinical Dosimetry ⁶⁷Cu Exchange Correction

Clinical Translation Vision

Bridging fundamental nuclear theory and medical physics by integrating exact forbidden beta spectral shapes into clinical Monte Carlo dosimetry.

Future Direction: Clinical Dosimetry

Advanced Computational Toolkit

Method 01 HPC Scale

Large-Scale Shell Model

Computational optimization and execution of massive M-scheme dimension diagonalizations (\(>10^{10}\) basis states) using advanced codes such as KSHELL and NuShellX. Deployed across high-performance supercomputing clusters (Mahti and Roihu) to achieve unprecedented numerical precision in nuclear structure calculations.

KSHELL NuShellX Mahti & Roihu Clusters

Method 02 C++ / Transport

Monte Carlo Transport

Capable of performing custom C++ modifications to the Geant4 toolkit to integrate microscopic user-defined beta spectral shapes. Successfully deployed this capability in a preliminary investigation of ⁶⁷Cu, constructing voxel-level water-sphere phantoms to quantify dose deposition and energy mapping.

Geant4 C++ Source Mod Voxel Phantoms

Method 03 Async / AI

Parallel Numerical Engines

Development of robust asynchronous multiprocessing pipelines in Python and C++ for large-scale data ingestion and tensor contractions. Engineering automated multi-stage workflows that programmatically fetch, parse, and purify experimental nuclear data from IAEA databases before advanced modelling.

M. Ramalho, J. Suhonen, A. Neacsu, S. Stoica

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2023 Universe

Ordinary Muon Capture on ¹³⁶Ba: Comparative Study Using the Shell Model and pnQRPA

P. Gimeno, L. Jokiniemi, J. Kotila, M. Ramalho, J. Suhonen

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Research & Technical Contributions

Core Research Pillars

Weak Axial-Vector Coupling (\(g_A\)) & Beta-Decay Precision

Natural Underground Earth Radiation & Background Modelling

Targeted Radionuclide Therapy & Clinical Translation

Advanced Computational Toolkit

Large-Scale Shell Model

Monte Carlo Transport

Parallel Numerical Engines

Peer-Reviewed Publications & Under Review

Ultralow Q-Value for the Allowed Decay of 110Agm Confirmed via Mass Measurements

gA-sensitive β spectral shapes in the mass A=86–99 region assessed by the nuclear shell model

Computed total β-electron spectra for decays of Pb and Bi in the 220,222Rn Radioactive Chains

Isomeric states of fission fragments explored via Penning trap mass spectrometry at IGISOL

High-precision measurements of low-lying isomeric states in 120-124In with JYFLTRAP

Analysis of the total β-electron spectrum of 92Rb: Implications for reactor flux anomalies

Tomographic beta-gamma spectroscopy of nuclear beta decay

The measurement of the 99Tc β-decay spectrum and its implications for the effective value of weak axial coupling

Spectroscopy of 113mCd

Electron spectral shape of the third-forbidden β-decay of 87Rb measured using a Rb2ZrCl6 crystal scintillator

High-precision direct decay energy measurements of the electron-capture decay of 97Tc

High-precision measurements of the atomic mass and electron-capture decay Q value of 95Tc

High-precision measurement of a low Q value for allowed β- decay of 131I related to neutrino mass determination

β- decay Q-value measurement of 136Cs and its implications for Neutrino Studies

Observation of an ultralow-Q value electron-capture channel decaying to 75As via a high-precision mass measurement

Direct high-precision measurement of the mass difference of 77As-77Se related to neutrino mass determination

Shell-model treatment of the β decay of 99Tc

Spectral shapes of second-forbidden single-transition nonunique β decays assessed using the nuclear shell model

Ordinary Muon Capture on 136Ba: Comparative Study Using the Shell Model and pnQRPA

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Ultralow Q-Value for the Allowed Decay of ¹¹⁰Ag^m Confirmed via Mass Measurements

g_A-sensitive β spectral shapes in the mass A=86–99 region assessed by the nuclear shell model

Computed total β-electron spectra for decays of Pb and Bi in the ^220,222Rn Radioactive Chains

High-precision measurements of low-lying isomeric states in ^120-124In with JYFLTRAP

Analysis of the total β-electron spectrum of ⁹²Rb: Implications for reactor flux anomalies

The measurement of the ⁹⁹Tc β-decay spectrum and its implications for the effective value of weak axial coupling

Spectroscopy of ^113mCd

Electron spectral shape of the third-forbidden β-decay of ⁸⁷Rb measured using a Rb₂ZrCl₆ crystal scintillator

High-precision direct decay energy measurements of the electron-capture decay of ⁹⁷Tc

High-precision measurements of the atomic mass and electron-capture decay Q value of ⁹⁵Tc

High-precision measurement of a low Q value for allowed β- decay of ¹³¹I related to neutrino mass determination

β- decay Q-value measurement of ¹³⁶Cs and its implications for Neutrino Studies

Observation of an ultralow-Q value electron-capture channel decaying to ⁷⁵As via a high-precision mass measurement

Direct high-precision measurement of the mass difference of ⁷⁷As-⁷⁷Se related to neutrino mass determination

Shell-model treatment of the β decay of ⁹⁹Tc

Ordinary Muon Capture on ¹³⁶Ba: Comparative Study Using the Shell Model and pnQRPA