Revised Weizsäcker Semiempirical Formula for Diffuse Nuclear Surfaces

Abstract

An attempt is made to modify the Weizsäcker semiempirical mass formula to include effects of the diffuse nuclear surface indicated by recent electron scattering experiments. Volume and surface effects are combined by integrating over an assumed trapezoidal density function similar to that found experimentally. Good fits to the experimental nuclear masses are achieved with $r_0$ (a radius parameter) and $\epsilon$ (half the surface depth) equal to 1.081×${10}^{-13\mathrm{}}$ cm and 1.202×${10}^{-13\mathrm{}}$ cm, respectively. These are in reasonably good agreement with the experimental values (1.07±0.02)×${10}^{-13\mathrm{}}$ cm and (1.50±0.20)×${10}^{-13\mathrm{}}$ cm found by Hahn, Ravenhall, and Hofstadter.