Isoscalar compression modes in relativistic random phase approximation Original Research Article

Monopole and dipole compression modes in nuclei are analyzed in the framework of a fully consistent relativistic random phase approximation (RRPA), based on effective mean-field Lagrangians with nonlinear meson self-interaction terms. The large effect of Dirac sea states on isoscalar strength distribution functions is illustrated for the monopole mode. The main contribution of Fermi and Dirac sea pair states arises through the exchange of the scalar meson. The effect of vector meson exchange is much smaller. For the monopole mode, RRPA results are compared with constrained relativistic mean-field calculations. A comparison between experimental and calculated energies of isoscalar giant monopole resonances points to a value of 250–270 MeV for the nuclear matter incompressibility. A large discrepancy remains between theoretical predictions and experimental data for the dipole compression mode.