Gogny interaction from beginnings to current challenges

Abstract

In the present review, various facets of the phenomenological effective Gogny interaction, which was originally proposed in the 70's, are gathered for the first time in the same place. This involves both nuclear phenomena of interest that led to its creation and evolution as well as highly technical aspects that led the objectives to be achieved. With this in mind, a discussion structured around four key points is proposed. After a general introduction, the history and philosophy of the Gogny interaction is exposed. In particular, one highlights the way followed by D. Gogny to guide the determination of the parameters of its phenomenological interaction with results obtained from a realistic interaction using Hartree-Fock calculations and second order corrections and a G-matrix. One also shows how physical phenomena such as pairing or fission were essential to improve the initial parameterization. The evolution of the original analytical form over the years is then discussed. The second key point concern the emulator that was used for the generation of parameterizations. Its modifications, consistent with the evolution of its analytical form along the decades, are detailed. Other fitting procedures from other groups, more recent, are also evoked. The third key point is dedicated to the role of some nuclear matter properties in the fitting process and the acceptance of a parameterization. The objective of the last key point consists in highlighting some results obtained with the Gogny interaction in various domains such as nuclear structure, fission, reactions and nuclear data that have allowed to interpret many experimental data. Perpsectives are given explaining some paths that will be followed in the future concerning the functional itself as well as N-body approaches.