Basic Information:
Yuan Cenxi is a Professor, Yat-sen Scholar, Doctoral Supervisor, and Deputy Dean at IFCEN, Sun Yat-sen University. His research focuses on nuclear theory.

Contact:
yuancx_at_mail.sysu.edu.cn

Education:
2006-2012, Peking University, Ph.D.
2010-2011, University of Tokyo, Joint Ph.D.
2002-2006, Peking University, Bachelor of Science

Work Experience:
2012-Present, Sun Yat-sen University, IFCEN, Lecturer (2012-2018), Associate Professor (2018-2024), Ph.D. Master's Supervisor (2019), Assistant Dean (2020-2021), Deputy Dean (2021), Yixian Scholar (2022), Professor (2024)

2013, Visiting Scholar at Nantes and Grenoble, France

Research Interests and Representative Papers:
My main research interests are nuclear physics and nuclear data. I have published over 140 SCI-indexed papers, including: Physical Review Letters, Physics Letters B, Physical Review C, Annals of Nuclear Energy, etc.

I. Nuclear Effective Interactions and Quantum Many-Body Theory:

I.1 Cenxi Yuan, Toshio Suzuki, Takaharu Otsuka, Furong Xu, and Naofumi Tsunoda, Shell-model study of boron, carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen isotopes with a monopole-based universal interaction, Physical Review C, 85, 064324 (2012). This work, which first considered the off-diagonal strength of the cross-shell interaction and constructed a new interaction in the psd region, has been confirmed by experimental work on over 80 big nuclear facilities, including six published in PRL and NC.

I.2 Cenxi Yuan, Chong Qi, Furong Xu*, Toshio Suzuki, Takaharu Otsuka, "Mirror energy difference and the structure of loosely bound proton-rich nuclei around A=20," Physical Review C, 89, 044327 (2014). This paper introduces a weak binding mechanism to explain the mirror asymmetry in the sd region, which was subsequently confirmed by experimental work on over 15 big nuclear facilities, including a series of experiments by the RIBLL collaboration, such as the strongest isospin symmetry mixing discovered to date (PRL Editor's Recommendation).

I.3 Cenxi Yuan*, Zhong Liu*, Furong Xu, P.M. Walker, Zs. Podolyák, C. Xu, Z.Z. Ren, B. Ding, M.L. Liu, X.Y. Liu, H.S. Xu, Y.H. Zhang, X.H. Zhou, W. Zuo, Isomerism in the “south-east” of 132Sn and a predicted neutron-decaying isomer in 129Pd, Physics Letters B, 762, 237–242 (2016). The interaction for southeastern region of 132Sn was constructed for the first time. The predicted isomer states and energy spectrum were confirmed by more than 10 experiments on big nuclear facilities.

I.4 Cen-Xi Yuan, Impact of off-diagonal cross-shell interaction on 14C, Chinese Physics C, 41(10), 104102 (2017). Independently proposed the importance of off-diagonal cross-shell interaction terms in explaining the spectroscopic properties of 14C. The interaction proposed in this paper was subsequently used in several works published in PRL and PRC.

I.5 Cenxi Yuan*, Menglan Liu, Noritaka Shimizu, Zs. Podolyák, Toshio Suzuki, Takaharu Otsuka, and Zhong Liu, Shell-model study on spectroscopic properties in the region “south” of 208Pb, Physical Review C, 106, 044314 (2022). For the first time, a shell model effective Hamiltonian was established to uniformly describe the spectroscopic properties of the southeastern and southwestern nuclei of 208Pb. The predicted isobaric states were confirmed by subsequent PRL experimental work.

I.6 Zhaozhan Zhang, Cenxi Yuan*, Chong Qi, Boshuai Cai, and Xinxing Xu, Extended R-matrix description of two-proton radioactivity, Physics Letters B, 838, 137740 (2023). This paper extends the traditional R-matrix theory, providing the first unified description of the decay widths of different two-proton emission mechanisms and generalizing it to four-proton emission.

I.7 Boshuai Cai and Cenxi Yuan*, Random forest-based prediction of decay modes and half-lives of superheavy nuclei, Nuclear Science and Techniques, 34, 204 (2023). This paper first uses machine learning to describe the decay modes of superheavy elements, providing a basis for identifying impact Chinese elements. This paper is the cover article of NST.

I.8 Menglan Liu and Cenxi Yuan*, Recent progress in configuration–interaction shell model, International Journal of Modern Physics E, 2330003, (2023). This invited review paper reviews recent progress in the configuration interaction shell model and related models.

I.9 Boshuai Cai, Cenxi Yuan*, Guangxin Zhang, Yinu Zhang, Menglan Liu, Yuanming Xing, Xinxing Xu, Jianguo Li, and Meng Wang, Isomeric structure in the 100Sn region: Possible competition between beta+ decay and proton emission in the isomeric unbound nucleus 97Sn Physical Review C 109, L051302 (2024). Based on the latest experimental data, this paper predicts the properties of isomeric states in the 100Sn region for the first time by considering weak binding effects. It is proposed that the isomeric state of 97Sn may be a state competing between β-decay and proton emission, which may affect nuclear astronomical processes.

II. Research on nuclear properties at the forefront of large scientific facilities;

II.1 Cenxi Yuan, Uncertainty decomposition method and its application to the liquid drop model, Physical Review C, 93, 034310 (2016). Independently proposed an uncertainty decomposition method and applied it to the statistical and systematic uncertainty decomposition of the liquid drop model theory, which was recognized by the FRIB chief scientist in a PRL and review paper.

II.2 Boshuai Cai#, Guangshang Chen#, Jiongyu Xu, Cenxi Yuan*, Chong Qi, and Yuan Yao, α decay half-life estimation and uncertainty analysis, Physical Review C, 101, 054304 (2020). First proposed a bootstrap statistical method to study the statistical and systematic uncertainty of theoretical models, and used it to study the uncertainty of α decay theory. This method has been used by multiple teams.

II.3 Z. Q. Chen, Z. H. Li*, H. Hua*, H. Watanabe, C. X. Yuan, et al., Proton Shell Evolution below 132Sn: First Measurement of Low-Lying β-Emitting Isomers in 123,125Ag, Physical Review Letters, 122, 212502 (2019). This paper provides full theoretical calculations based on the optimized VMU+LS interaction construction for the jj56 region. The results not only describe the isomeric states and energy spectra of 123,125Ag, but also explain that the first-type shell evolution reflected by the Ag isotope shell structure is dominated by the tensor component of the nuclear force.

II.4 X. Xu, J. H. Liu, C. X. Yuan, Y. M. Xing, M. Wang*, Y. H. Zhang*, et al., Masses of ground and isomeric states of 101In and configuration-dependent shell evolution in odd-A indium isotopes, Physical Review C, 100, 051303(R) (2019). Full theoretical calculations are provided, suggesting that this isomeric state may be the first example of type II shell evolution in an odd-mass nucleus.

II.5 M.M. Zhang, H.B. Yang*, Z.G. Gan, Z.Y. Zhang, M.H. Huang, L. Ma, C.L. Yang, C.X. Yuan*, et al., A new isomeric state in 218Pa, Physics Letters B, 800, 135102 (2020). Full theoretical calculations are provided to explain the evolution of isomeric states in N=127 odd-odd isomeric nuclei as a result of the change in the interaction type between valence protons and neutrons from particle-particle to particle-hole.

II.6 Z. Y. Zhang, H. B. Yang, M. H. Huang, Z. G. Gan, C. X. Yuan, et al., New α-Emitting Isotope 214U and Abnormal Enhancement of α-Particle Clustering in Lightest Uranium Isotopes, Physical Review Letters, 126, 152502 (2021). Provides full theoretical calculations and systematic experimental and theoretical analysis, finding that the larger α-decay widths of nuclei such as 214U, 216U, and 218U may arise from stronger proton-neutron interactions. This paper was selected as an Editors’ Suggestion and Featured in Physics, and was reported by multiple media, including China Science Daily, Nature, Physics, and Tencent, and indexed by Wikipedia.

II.7 H. Watanabe*, C. X. Yuan, et al., Impact of shell evolution on Gamow-Teller β decay from a high-spin long-lived isomer in 127Ag, Physics Letters B, 823, 136766 (2021). Full theoretical calculations are provided, and the importance of type II shell evolution in the spectral and decay properties of this isomer is pointed out.

II.8 H. B. Yang, Z. G. Gan*, Z. Y. Zhang, M. H. Huang, L. Ma, M. M. Zhang, C. X. Yuan*, Y. F. Niu*, et al., New isotope 207Th and odd-even staggering in α-decay energies for nuclei with Z > 82 and N < 126, Physical Review C 105, L051302 (2022). Provides the shell model theoretical calculations and explains that the odd-even relation in α-decay energies originates from the scattering of proton or neutron pairs into multiple orbits.

II.9 Bo-Shuai Cai, Guang-Shang Chen, Cen-xi Yuan* and Jian-Jun He*, Shell-model study on properties of proton dripline nuclides with Z, N = 30–50 including uncertainty analysis, Chinese Physics C, 46(8), 084104, (2022). For the first time, the modified formula was combined with the bootstrap statistical method to study the experimental binding energy of Z, N = 30–50. The uncertainty of the description of the diproton separation energy is about 0.2 MeV. This is a CPC highlight paper. 

II.10 J. J. Liu, X. X. Xu*, L. J. Sun*, C. X. Yuan, et al., Observation of a Strongly Isospin-Mixed Doublet in 26Si via β-Delayed Two-Proton Decay of 26P, Physical Review Letters 129, 242502 (2022). Provides full theoretical calculations, discovers the strongest isospin mixed state to date, and proposes a possible contribution of weak binding. This paper was selected as an Editors’ Suggestion.

II.11 Yu‑Feng Gao, Bo‑Shuai Cai, and Cen‑Xi Yuan*, Investigation of β--decay half‑life and delayed neutron emission with uncertainty analysis, Nuclear Science and Techniques, 34, 9 (2023). This paper proposes a formula to describe the β-decay half-life and the probability of β-delayed neutron emission. This is an NST Highlight Paper.

II.12 H. B. Yang, Z. G. Gan*, Y. J. Li, M. L. Liu, S. Y. Xu, C. Liu, M. M. Zhang, Z. Y. Zhang, M. H. Huang, C. X. Yuan*, S. Y. Wang*, et al., Discovery of New Isotopes 160Os and 156W: Revealing Enhanced Stability of the N = 82 Shell Closure on the Neutron-Deficient Side, Physical Review Letters, 132, 072502 (2024). Provides theoretical calculations, systematically analyzes the N = 82 neutron shell structure enhancement through experimental and theoretical analysis, and predicts the shell effect of the heaviest doubly magic conjugated nucleus 162Pb. This paper was selected as Editors’ Suggestion and Featured in Physics, has been reported by dozens of media, including the Nuclear Safety Administration, People's Daily Online, and CCTV News.

III Nuclear safety and security research

III.1 Shengli Chen and Cenxi Yuan*, Neutronic Analysis on Potential Accident Tolerant Fuel-Cladding Combination U3Si2-FeCrAl, Science and Technology of Nuclear Installations, 2017, 3146985 (2017). This paper was one of the first to systematically study the neutronic properties of the novel U3Si2-FeCrAl accident-tolerant fuel-cladding combination internationally, and has been recognized by over 60 subsequent research works.

III.2 Shengli Chen, Cenxi Yuan*, Daxi Guo, Radial distributions of power and isotopic concentrations in candidate accident tolerant fuel U3Si2 and UO2/U3Si2 fuel pins with FeCrAl cladding, Annals of Nuclear Energy 124, 460-471 (2019). Shengli Chen, Yulin Ge, Yao Zhong, Cenxi Yuan*, Radial distributions of power and fuel temperature in annular U3Si2 fuel with FeCrAl cladding, Annals of Nuclear Energy, 135, 106943 (2020). New analytical formulas for burnup and isotopic radial distribution applicable to a variety of accident tolerant fuels (including annular fuels) and conventional fuels are proposed and applied in multiphysics coupling work and programs.

III.3 Sheng-Li Chen, Xiu-Jie He*, and Cen-Xi Yuan*, Recent studies on potential accident-tolerant fuel-cladding systems in light water reactors, Nuclear Science and Techniques, 31, 32 (2020). This invited review paper summarizes the progress of accident-tolerant fuels and was selected as an outstanding paper by NST.

III.4 Zhaozhan Zhang, Jinmin Yang, Wenxin Qiu, Jiajian Shi, Cenxi Yuan*, Chunyu Zhang, Jianyu Zhu, Jiahang Su, Shengli Chen, and Yulin Ge, Linear relationship among nonlinear transport-depletion problem: Forensics of enrichment and burnup of PWR, Annals of Nuclear Energy, 173, 109121 (2022). Shengli Chen, Tianxiang Wang, Zhong Zhang, Runfeng Li, Su Yuan, Ruiyi Zhang, Cenxi Yuan*, Chunyu Zhang, and Jianyu Zhu, Linear Regression and Machine Learning for Nuclear Forensics of Spent Fuel from Six Types of Nuclear Reactors, Physical Review Applied, 19, 034028 (2023). A new method for linear traceability forensics of six types of reactor fuel was proposed for the first time. Both papers were selected as important progress of the Nuclear Forensics International Technical Working Group (NF-ITWG). The latter was selected as Featured in Physics and reported on the front page and twitter of Physics magazine, and was also reported by The Hindu, an English newspaper in India.

III.5 Jinbei Chen#, Menglan Liu#, Cenxi Yuan*, Shengli Chen*, Noritaka Shimizu, Xiaodong Sun, Ruirui Xu, and Yuan Tian, ​​Shell-model-based investigation on level density of Xe and Ba isotopes, Physical Review C, 107, 054306 (2023). This paper is the first to investigate the energy level density of fission products at the microscopic level based on the shell model Hamiltonian, and to discuss the effects of spin-orbit coupling and tensor forces on the energy level density. The paper was invited by the International Atomic Energy Agency to participate in the CRP project.