Spin-orbit splittings of neutron states in N=20 isotones from covariant density functionals and their extensions

Abstract

Spin-orbit splitting is an essential ingredient for our understanding of the shell structure in nuclei. One of the most important advantages of relativistic mean-field (RMF) models in nuclear physics is the fact that the large spin-orbit (SO) potential emerges automatically from the inclusion of Lorentz-scalar and -vector potentials in the Dirac equation. It is therefore of great importance to compare the results of such models with experimental data. We investigate the size of 2p and 1f splittings for the isotone chain 40Ca, 38Ar, 36S, and 34Si in the framework of various relativistic and nonrelativistic density functionals. They are compared with the results of nonrelativistic models and with recent experimental data.