Self-consistent Hartree description of deformed nuclei in a relativistic quantum field theory.

Abstract

Relativistic Hartree orbitals for nonspherical (even-even) nuclei have been calculated self-consistently from a Lagrangian field theory using the mean field approximation. All parameters in this model are determined from the properties of infinite nuclear matter, so there are no parameters which can be adjusted in the calculation of the orbitals. The energy levels, rms radii, and quadrupole moments are in qualitative agreement with earlier nonrelativistic calculations and with experiment; however, the overall deformations (which are fixed by the self-consistency) are somewhat smaller than those obtained experimentally and from nonrelativistic calculations. The difference may be due to the large compressibility characteristic of relativistic mean field calculations. These orbitals and the self-consistently determined mean fields provide a framework for a detailed investigation of the compressibility as well as other relativistic effects.