Radial basis function approach in nuclear mass predictions

Abstract

The radial basis function (RBF) approach is applied in predicting nuclear masses for eight widely used nuclear mass models, ranging from macroscopic-microscopic to microscopic types. A significantly improved accuracy in computing nuclear masses is obtained, and the corresponding rms deviations with respect to the known masses are reduced by up to $78%$. Moreover, strong correlations are found between a target nucleus and the reference nuclei within about three units in distance; these play critical roles in improving nuclear mass predictions. Based on the latest Weizs\"acker-Skyrme mass model, the RBF approach can achieve an accuracy comparable with the extrapolation method used in atomic mass evaluation. In addition, the necessity of new high-precision experimental data to improve the mass predictions with the RBF approach is emphasized as well.