A Note on Nuclear Radii

Abstract

Corrections to the nuclear radius and particle density arising from the neutron excess $N-Z$, from the electrostatic repulsion of the protons and from the surface tension forces, are calculated on the basis of the statistical model. The density throughout the interior of the heaviest nuclei is found to be about one-third less than in medium light nuclei ($A\sim 50$). The trend of $r_0=\frac{R}{A^{\frac{1}{3}}}$ from the lightest to the heaviest elements is discussed and compared with experiment.