Covariant density functional theory for isospin properties of nuclei far from stability

Abstract

The standard relativistic mean-field density functionals based on non-linear meson exchange terms are extended to include density dependent meson-nucleon coupling constants. Special care is taken for the density dependence in the isovector channel. This provides not only an improved description of the equation of state for neutron matter and asymmetric nuclear matter but also for isovector properties of finite nuclei far from stability such as the neutron skin thickness. In particular it improves nuclear binding energies considerably as compared earlier applications of relativistic density functional theory to nuclear mass tables. An average root mean square deviation of 900 keV is found.