Ab initio nuclear density functional theory (DFT) is a theoretical framework that systematically describes nuclear structure and dynamics by constructing energy density functionals from realistic nuclear forces. Unlike traditional empirical density functionals, this approach is rooted in quantum many-body theory, where the explicit form of the energy density functional is self-consistently derived through an ab initio framework that accurately accounts for complex nucleon-nucleon interactions—including short-range repulsion, tensor forces, and three-body forces.  

The central goal is to achieve a unified description of nuclear ground-state properties (such as binding energies, charge radii, and deformations), excitation spectra, and reaction cross-sections with minimal phenomenological parameters, while also revealing microscopic mechanisms like nucleon correlations, shell evolution, and collective motion. Compared to exact many-body calculations, DFT offers superior computational efficiency, making it applicable to medium-mass, heavy, and even superheavy nuclei.  

This approach provides an efficient and reliable theoretical tool for exploring nucleosynthesis pathways in nuclear astrophysics, phase transitions of nuclear matter under extreme conditions, and the design of next-generation nuclear energy systems.