Nuclear ab initio calculations are computational methods that rigorously solve the structure and dynamical properties of atomic nuclei based on fundamental quantum mechanics, realistic nucleon-nucleon interactions (i.e., nuclear forces), and microscopic many-body theory. These approaches do not rely on empirical parameters or phenomenological models, instead directly revealing the quantum many-body behavior of nuclei.  

The core challenges in this field stem from the complexity of nuclear forces (such as short-range repulsion, tensor forces, three-body forces, etc.) and the exponential growth in computational complexity as the number of nucleons increases. In recent years, advances in high-performance computing, artificial intelligence algorithms, and sophisticated many-body theoretical frameworks have enabled ab initio calculations to accurately describe the ground-state properties, excitation spectra, shape evolution, and nuclear reaction processes of light to medium-mass nuclei. These developments provide a microscopic theoretical foundation for understanding key scientific questions, including the origin of elements, stellar nucleosynthesis, and nuclear energy applications.