Covariant density functional theory: addressing the challenges

Covariant density functional theory (CDFT) is a well-established theoretical tool for the description of nuclear systems. In this theory, the nucleus is described as a system of nucleons which interact by the exchange of different mesons. However, there were still a number of important topics which have not been either addressed or satisfactorily resolved within its framework prior to our work. In my talk, I will concentrate on two of them, namely, on single-particle degrees of freedom and fission barriers.

The successes and limitations of the description of single-particle degrees of freedom in spherical, deformed and rotating nuclei within the CDFT will be discussed. Further improvement of the description of the energies of pre- dominantly single-particle states and their wave functions requires beyond mean field methods built on CDFT which include particle-vibration coupling. The impact of particle-vibration coupling on different physical observables such as the energies of predominantly single-particle states, the spin-orbit splittings, the energy splittings in pseudospin doublets will be illustrated in spherical nuclei ranging from light up to superheavy ones.

The fission barriers play an important role in the physics of heavy and superheavy nuclei; they are intimately connected with the existence and stability of superheavy nuclei. The CDFT has recently been confronted with experimental data on fission barriers in actinides and superheavy nuclei in a realistic manner. It is shown that the CDFT is able to describe fission barriers of actinides on a level of accuracy which is comparable with the best phenomenological macroscopic+microscopic approaches. The impact of pairing, triaxiality and octupole deformation on the properties of inner and outer fission barriers will be discussed.

Argonne Physics Division Seminar Schedule