Speaker
Description
Constructing a unified effective nuclear force for configuration-interaction calculations has long been a challenge in nuclear structure physics. In this talk, we propose a solution starting from a monopole-based universal interaction. By performing configuration-interaction shell-model calculations alongside component-by-component sensitivity analyses, we investigate the distinct roles of central, tensor, and spin-orbit forces and optimize their individual strengths. We demonstrate how isovector optimization and monopole reduction lead to significantly improved excitation spectra and more reliable shell-model extrapolations. Our findings not only provide better predictions near the nuclear driplines but also help constrain astrophysical r-process pathways.