The authors review the present status of self-consistent mean-field (SCMF) models for describing nuclear structure and low-energy dynamics. These models are presented as effective energy-density functionals. The three most widely used variants of SCMF's based on a Skyrme energy functional, a Gogny force, and a relativistic mean-field Lagrangian are considered side by side. The crucial role of the treatment of pairing correlations is pointed out in each case. The authors discuss other related nuclear structure models and present several extensions beyond the mean-field model which are currently used. Phenomenological adjustment of the model parameters is discussed in detail. The performance quality of the SCMF model is demonstrated for a broad range of typical applications.

Self-consistent mean-field models for nuclear structure

Nowadays it has become customary in nuclear physics to denote by “tradition” the approach that considers nucleons and mesons as the relevant degrees of freedom. It is the purpose of this chapter to review this “traditional” approach in the area of nuclear forces and their applications to nuclear structure.

The Meson Theory of Nuclear Forces and Nuclear Structure

D. Gogny

Papers

Nuclear compressibility and monopole resonances

Theory of elementary excitations in closed shell nuclei