Uncertainty quantification has emerged as a rapidly growing field in nuclear science. Theoretical predictions of physical observables often involve extrapolations to regions that are poorly constrained by laboratory experiments and astrophysical observations. Without properly quantified theoretical errors, such model predictions are of limited value. Also, one often deals with theoretical constructs that involve fundamental quantities that are not accessible to experiment or observation. Particularly relevant in this context is the pressure of pure neutron matter. In this Rapid Communication, we develop an analytic framework to answer the question of “How can new data reduce uncertainties of current theoretical models?” [Reinhard and Nazarewicz, Phys. Rev. C 81, 051303(R) (2010)]. Simple and insightful expressions are obtained to quantify the impact of one or two new observables on theoretical uncertainties in two critical quantities: The slope of the symmetry energy at saturation density and the pressure of pure neutron matter at twice nuclear matter saturation density.

• Received 15 June 2020
• Accepted 18 September 2020

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.102.042801