Light nuclei near neutron and proton drip lines in relativistic mean-field theory

Abstract We have made a detailed study of the ground-state properties of nuclei in the light-mass region with atomic numbers Z = 10–22 in the framework of the relativistic mean-field (RMF) theory. The nonlinear σω model with scalar self-interaction has been employed. The RMF calculations have been performed in an axially deformed configuration using the force NL-SH. We have considered nuclei about the stability line as well as those close to proton and neutron drip lines. It is shown that the RMF results provide good agreement with the available empirical data. The RMF predictions also show reasonably good agreement with those of the mass models. It is observed that nuclei in this mass region are found to possess strong deformations and exhibit shape changes all along the isotopic chains. The phenomenon of shape coexistence is found to persist near the stability line as well as near the drip lines. It is shown that the magic number N = 28 is quenched strongly, thus enabling the corresponding nuclei to assume strong deformations. Nuclei near the neutron and proton drip lines in this region are also shown to be strongly deformed.