Isoscalar dipole mode in relativistic random phase approximation

The isoscalar giant dipole resonance structure in (208)pb is calculated in the framework of a fully consistent relativistic random phase approximation , based on effective mean-field Lagrangians with nonlinear meson self-inter action terms. The results are compared with recent experimental data and wi th calculations performed in the Hartree-Fock plus RPA framework. Two basic isoscalar dipole modes are identified from the analysis of the velocity di stributions. The discrepancy between the calculated strength distributions and current experimental data is discussed, as well as the implications for the determination of the nuclear matter incompressibility. (C) 2000 Elsevi er Science B.V. All rights reserved.