Berlin 2005 – scientific programme

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SYAM: Atomare Präzisionsmassenspektrometrie

SYAM 1: Atomare Pr
äzisionsmassenspektrometrie

SYAM 1.4: Invited Talk

Monday, March 7, 2005, 11:30–12:00, HU Senatssaal

Theory and predictability of nuclear masses — •Piet Van Isacker — GANIL, BP 55027, F-14076 Caen cedex, France

The status of modern nuclear mass formulas is reviewed. This includes the elementary Weizsaecker liquid drop formula and its up-to-date refinements, such as the finite-range droplet model, as well as more microscopically founded attempts based on Hartree-Fock theory and the shell model. Special attention is paid to the recent suggestion that there might be a limit to the accuracy with which nuclear masses can be calculated in a mean-field approach and that chaotic motion inside the atomic nucleus is responsible for this lack of predictability. In view of the important implications of this claim (e.g., for nuclear astrophysics), its meaning is clarified with an empirical study of more than 2000 nuclear masses. With use of Garvey-Kelson relations, correlations among neighbouring masses are established that are satisfied with an rms deviation of less than 100 keV. This can be considered as a upper limit for the current predictability of nuclear masses.