The binding energy and density distribution of finite nuclei

Abstract

A single-particle nuclear model and an effective nucleon potential are used to investigate the binding energy and density distribution of finite nuclei. The results for the binding energy are analysed in the form of the liquid-drop mass formula. We find that the surface energy coefficient is smaller by 20% for a nucleus of ten nucleons than for large nuclei, the symmetry energy coefficient is constant for all real nuclei, and the surface symmetry energy coefficient is given by 70 [1-exp(−8 I)] MeV. The half-density radii of the neutron and proton distributions are equal for stable nuclei, but the neutron surface thickness increases with neutron excess, being some 50% larger than the proton surface thickness for large nuclei.