RELATIVISTIC INVESTIGATION OF NUCLEAR-SURFACE PROPERTIES

Calculations for semi-infinite nuclear matter within the relativistic Hartree approximation have been performed utilizing the nonlinear sigm a-omega model. We investigate the structure of the nuclear surface, i. e., the surface energy and the surface thickness, in its dependence on the properties of uniform nuclear matter in a systematic manner. We e stablish criterions for the selection of a relativistic mean-held para metrization following from the experimentally well determined, nuclear surface properties. In this respect, we discuss some currently used p arameter sets. In addition, the accuracy of the semiclassical Thomas-F ermi approximation compared with the fully quantal approach is investi gated. We close with some studies on density distributions (skewness p arameter, Friedel oscillations, and the influence of the spin-orbit po tential) and the nuclear curvature energy.