Density Functional Theory and Nuclear Shape Transitions

Abstract

Covariant density functional theory beyond mean field is used to describe the collective dynamics of finite nuclei in terms of deformation degrees of freedom. As an example we show that the symmetryX(5) of the quantum phase transition (QPT) between the U(5) and the SU(3) limits of the interacting boson model can be reproduced well within the relativistic version of the Generator Coordinate Method (GCM). This method is numerically very complicated and practically applicable only for very simple systems. The microscopic derivation of a collective Hamiltonian in five dimensions (5DCH) provides an elegant and simple alternative. We discuss benchmark calculations for the nucleus 76Kr which show that there is very good agreement between both methods.