Relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov description of the neutron drip-line in light nuclei

Abstract The relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov theory is applied to the description of the properties of light nuclei with large neutron excess. Pairing correlations and the coupling to particle continuum states are described by finite range two-body forces. Using standard parameter sets for the mean-field Lagrangian and the pairing interaction of Gogny, self-consistent solutions in coordinate space are calculated for the ground states of a number of neutron-rich nuclei. The model predicts the location of the neutron drip-line, a reduction of the spin-orbit interaction, rms radii, changes in surface properties, and the formation of neutron skins and of neutron halos.