Applied and Formal studies with the Projected Generator Coordinate MethodHYBRID

Variational beyond-mean-field techniques have proven to be valuable tools for the description of nuclear properties. Within this family of approaches, the projected generator coordinate method (PGCM) offers a robust and adaptable theoretical framework for addressing the nuclear many-body problem, based on the mixing of intrinsic configurations with restored symmetries. Although historically associated with energy density functionals, the use of this method has now been extended to valence-space Hamiltonians. This includes those used in shell-model and ab initio calculations, thus enabling direct comparisons between different theoretical models.

In this talk, I will present novel applications of the PGCM to (a) the production of J^π=1⁺ nuclear states and the description of M1 γ-strength functions, and (b) the study of shape evolution in the neutron-rich region around ⁷⁸Ni. In both cases, the results will be compared with shell-model calculations. Additionally, I will revisit certain formal aspects of the PGCM, focusing on fundamental properties and the interpretation of its solutions.