Covariant density functional theory for rare isotopes

Abstract

Modern methods for the description of the nuclear many-body system use the concepts of density functional theory (DFT) and of effective field theory (EFT). The covariant version of this theory is based on a density functional which takes into account Lorentz symmetry in a self-consistent way. Pairing correlations play an important role in all open-shell configurations. They are included in relativistic Hartree Bogoliubov (RHB) theory by an effective residual interaction of finite range. With a minimal number of phenomenological parameters this theory allows a very successful phenomenological description of ground state properties of nuclei all over the periodic table. Recently this method has also been extended for the investigations of excited states, such as collective vibrations and rotations.