Statistical Theory of Nuclei. II. Medium and Heavy Nuclei

The total energies of finite nuclei are expressed as a functional E[ρₚ, ρₙ] of the local proton and neutron densities ρₚ and ρₙ. The binding energies and densities of any nucleus are found by minimizing E[ρₚ, ρₙ] with respect to ρₚ and ρₙ separately. The potential-energy functional is initially derived from a nuclear matter calculation but later adjusted to reproduce experimental binding energies. Results for light nuclei have already been reported, and here the calculation is extended to medium and heavy nuclei. Binding energies and mean radii are well reproduced but surface thicknesses are too large and rms radii too small.