Eur. Phys. J.

A (2015) 51: 40
DOI 10.1140/epja/i2015-15040-1
THE EUROPEAN
PHYSICAL JOURNAL A
Regular Article – Theoretical Physics

An effective formula for nuclear charge radii

Zongqiang Sheng1,a , Guangwei Fan1 , Jianfa Qian1 , and Jigang Hu2

1
School of Science, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan 232007, China
2
School of Electronic Science and Applied Physics, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China

Received: 8 February 2015

Published online: 7 April 2015 – 
c Società Italiana di Fisica / Springer-Verlag 2015
Communicated by F. Gulminelli

Abstract. Based on a systematic investigation on the experimental nuclear charge radii for 834 nuclei with
A ≥ 40, an effective five-parameter formula is proposed to describe nuclear charge radii by combining the
effects of the Casten factor and the odd-even staggering. The calculated nuclear charge radii are in good
agreement with the experimental data available. The corresponding root-mean-square deviation falls to
σ = 0.0223 fm, which is reduced by more than 50% compared with the results of the conventional three-
parameter formula. The proposed formula can well reproduce the shell effect and the odd-even staggering.
The calculated results for some typical isotopic chains are listed to compare with results calculated from
the Hartree-Fock method.

1 Introduction In some nuclear models, nuclear charge radius is sim-

ply given by RC = r0 A1/3 . If a more accurate and reli-
able formula is provided, it will be very useful to improve
Nuclear charge radius is one of the most important and
the calculated results with these models. Moreover, with
fundamental nuclear parameters. The root-mean-square
new experimental data, the parameters in the old formulae
(rms) nuclear charge radii can be derived from four dif-
should be renewed.
ferent sources: high-energy elastic electron scattering (e− ),
muonic atom X-rays (u− ), optical isotope shifts (OIS) and In this paper we propose a more precise formula based
Kα X-rays isotope shifts (Kα IS) [1–3]. Studies of nuclear on the available nuclear charge radii data for A ≥ 40.
charge radii can provide direct information on the density The paper is organized as follows. In sect. 2, an effective
of nuclear matter, the Coulomb energy of nuclei, and the formula for nuclear charge radii is presented and the cal-
saturation properties of nuclear force. Understanding of its culated results and discussions are provided. A summary
property is important not only in nuclear physics, but also is given in sect. 3.
in many fields such as astrophysics, atomic physics, etc.
With the development of radioactive ion beam facil-
ities, more and more nuclei far from the β-stability line
become experimentally accessible. Recently, many exper- 2 Nuclear charge radius
iments have been conducted to measure nuclear charge
radii [4–8]. A lot of new data have become available. In Nuclear charge radius is defined as
ref. [9], an updated table of experimental ground-state nu-
clear charge radii is provided, which includes a set of rms 
nuclear charge radii for 909 isotopes of 92 elements from 5 2 1/2
RC = r  , (1)
1 H to 96 Cm. Compared with the previous table published 3
in 2004 [10], many new data are added. The radii changes
in isotopic chains for He, Li, Be, Ne, Sc, Mn, Y, Nb, and where r2 1/2 is the rms nuclear charge radius. For very
Bi have been first obtained and several isotopic sequences, light nuclei, due to their small mass and large fluctuation
such as Ar, Mo, Sn, Te, Pb, and Po, have been extended to in charge distribution, the charge distribution radius has
the regions far from the β-stability line. Many theoretical little meaning when treated as a bulk property. So we only
approaches and models have been proposed to investigate study nuclear charge radii for the nuclei with A ≥ 40 in
nuclear charge radii [11–27]. the present work. A set of 834 ground-state rms nuclear
charge radii for the nuclei with A ≥ 40 is presented in the
a
e-mail: [email protected] latest published table [9].
Page 2 of 6 Eur. Phys. J. A (2015) 51: 40

The simplest formula for nuclear charge radius RC is

usually described by the A1/3 law:

RC = r0 A1/3 , (2)

where A is the mass number. The parameter r0 is

1.2247 fm for the nuclei with A ≥ 40 by fitting the new
experimental data again.
The rms deviation between the calculated nuclear
charge radii and the experimental values is defined as
 834 1/2
 Expt. 2
σ= Cal.
(RC − RC ) /834 = 0.0906 fm, (3)
i=1

which is quite large. Equation (2) only expresses the lin- Fig. 1. The nuclear charge radii of Sr isotopes. The solid circles
ear relationship between nuclear charge radius and mass denote the experimental data. The hollow circles and triangles
number. However, the experimental data show that r0 is denote the calculated results with eqs. (4) and (5), respectively.
far from being constant and systematically decreases with
mass number A. For example, r0 is 1.3128 fm for light nu-
cleus 40 Ca and 1.2300 fm for medium nucleus 90 Zr, while
r0 is 1.1987 fm for heavy nucleus 208 Pb. This fact im-
plies that some underlying physics must be missing in
eq. (2).
In ref. [13], a formula including the relative neutron ex-
cess (N −Z)/A is proposed. It is described in the following
form:  
N −Z
RC = r0 1 − a A1/3 . (4)
A
We get the fitted parameters r0 = 1.2698 fm and a =
0.2177. The rms deviation σ = 0.0626 fm. This shows that
eq. (4) is much better than eq. (2) for reproducing the
experimental data. However, this formula is not suitable
for describing light nuclei with Z < 38. In order to better
describe RC for all Z ≥ 8 elements, a correction term
Fig. 2. Isotopic behavior of the experimental nuclear charge
b/A should be added into eq. (4). The modified three-
radii for Kr, Rb, Sr, Y, and Zr elements. A dash vertical line
parameter formula is written as is plotted at the major neutron closure N = 50.
 
N −Z 1
RC = r0 1 − a +b A1/3 , (5)
A A

with the fitted parameters r0 = 1.2347 fm, a = 0.1428,

and b = 2.0743. The rms deviation falls to σ = 0.0496 fm.
Equations (4) and (5) are nearly linear, too. They can not
well reproduce the changing trend of the nuclear charge
radii for some elements. For example, the calculated re-
sults with eqs. (4) and (5) for Se isotopes are shown in
fig. 1.
Figure 1 shows that the calculated results with eqs. (4)
and (5) for Se isotopes are almost linear, while the experi-
mental curve is fluctuant and there are several kinks in it.
So a more precise formula for better showing the changing
trend of nuclear charge radii should be proposed.
From the latest table of experimental ground-state rms
nuclear charge radii, the shell effect is very obvious. We
can demonstrate this effect by the following figures. Fig- Fig. 3. The same as fig. 2 but for Xe, Cs, Ba, Nd, Eu and Sm
ures 2 and 3 show the isotopic behavior of the experimen- elements. A dash vertical line is plotted at the major neutron
tal nuclear charge radii for some isotopic chains. closure N = 82.
Eur. Phys. J. A (2015) 51: 40 Page 3 of 6

Figures 2 and 3 clearly show that the conventional

neutron magic numbers 50 and 82 are evident from the
nuclear charge radii development. The shell effect can be
seen in figs. 2 and 3, showing that the slope of the isotopic
curves is steep at the beginning of an interval between two
magic numbers and tends to saturate at the end. The slope
changes or kinks in the isotopic and isotonic curves are at
the point of the magic neutron and proton numbers. These
magic numbers can be regarded as the turning points in
the curves.
There are many factors that may impact nuclear
charge radii, such as isospin effect, shell effect, deforma-
tion, etc. There is a close relationship between shell effect
and deformations.
The effective numbers of valence particles (or holes)
are often found to be useful in the parametrization of var- Fig. 4. The nuclear charge radii of Sr (left panel) and Nd
ious nuclear quantities. The product of numbers of va- (right panel) elements. The solid circles denote the experimen-
tal data. The hollow circles and triangles denote the calculated
lence protons (Np ) and neutrons (Nn ), or similar func-
results with eqs. (5) and (6), respectively.
tions of Np and Nn , represents the integrated n-p inter-
action strength and has been found to bear smooth re-
lationships with certain observables [28,29]. The Np Nn
scheme and the modified function Np Nn /(Np + Nn ) (the
Casten factor P [30]) are widely used in many nuclear
fields, such as phase transitions, deformations and B(E2)
values, properties of excited states, rotational moments of
inertia and ground band energy systematics, spectroscopic
factors, etc. [31–38].
In view of the importance of deformations for nuclear
charge radii, we guess that there should be a close relation-
ship between the Casten factor P and nuclear charge radii.
So, we introduce a term with the Casten factor P into
eq. (5). It can be written as
 
N −Z 1 P
RC = r0 1 − a +b +c A1/3 . (6)
A A A Fig. 5. The experimental nuclear charge radii of Sm (left
panel) and Ti (right panel) elements.
For the calculation of the Casten factor P , the following
magic numbers produced the best fit: ZM = 2, 6, 14, 28,
The odd-even staggering is a common phenomenon in
50, 82, (114), and NM = 2, 8, 14, 28, 50, 82, 126, (184) [24,
many nuclear fields. This phenomenon can also be ob-
39]. We get the best-fit parameters: r0 = 1.2320 fm, a =
served in nuclear charge radii for most elements. The nu-
0.1529, b = 1.3768 and c = 0.4286. The corresponding
clear charge radii of even-neutron nuclei are larger than
rms deviation surprisingly falls to σ = 0.0235 fm, which
the average radii of their odd neighbors. For instance, the
is reduced by more than 50% compared with the result
experimental nuclear charge radii of Sm (even-Z) and Ti
from eq. (5). It is a very satisfying result. If just for even-
(odd-Z) isotopic chains are shown in fig. 5.
even nuclei, the fitted parameters are r0 = 1.2331 fm, a =
From fig. 5, the odd-even staggering can be clearly
0.1542, b = 1.4227 and c = 0.4179, and the corresponding
observed in the two isotopic chains. It also shows that the
rms deviation falls to σ = 0.0168 fm. It demonstrates that
nuclear charge radii of even-even nuclei are systematically
the Casten factor plays a key role in nuclear charge radii.
large from systematic trends in neighboring nuclei, while
As an example, the calculated results with eq. (6) for
that of odd-odd nuclei are systematically small. So we add
Sr and Nd isotopes are shown in fig. 4 including the ex-
a δ term into eq. (6). δ = 1, −1, 0 for even-even, odd-odd,
perimental results and the calculated results with eq. (5)
and odd-A nuclei, respectively. It can be written as
for comparison.
 
From fig. 4, one can clearly see that the theoretical N −Z 1 P δ
curves with eq. (6) are consistent well with the experimen- RC = r0 1 − a +b +c +d A1/3 . (7)
A A A A
tal ones. The calculated results with eq. (6) can well reflect
the changing trend for nuclear charge radii of Sr and Nd We get the best-fitted parameters: r0 = 1.2321 fm, a =
isotopes. The shell effect at N = 50 and N = 82 are well 0.1534, b = 1.3358, c = 0.4317 and d = 0.1225. The cor-
reproduced with eq. (6). However, the calculated results responding rms deviation falls to σ = 0.0223 fm. The cal-
with eq. (5) are almost linear and cannot reproduce the culated results with eq. (7) are shown in fig. 6 for Sm and
kinks for the neutron magic numbers N = 50 and N = 82. Ti isotopes chains, respectively.
Page 4 of 6 Eur. Phys. J. A (2015) 51: 40

Fig. 6. The nuclear charge radii of Sm (left panel) and Ti

(right panel) elements. The solid and hollow circles denote the Fig. 7. Differences between the experimental nuclear charge
experimental data and the calculated results with eq. (7), re- radii and the calculated results with eq. (5) for the 834 selected
spectively. nuclei with A ≥ 40 versus proton number. Here, the differences
are defined as: ΔRC = RC Expt.
− RCCal.
.
From fig. 6, one can see that the calculated results
with eq. (7) can well reproduce the odd-even staggering
in Sm and Ti isotopic chains. The changing trend for the
nuclear charge radii with eq. (7) is in good agreement with
the experimental results.
The differences between the the experimental and the
calculated nuclear charge radii for the 834 selected nuclei
are defined as
Expt.
ΔRC = RC − RC
Cal.
. (8)

The ΔRC with eqs. (5) and (7) are shown in figs. 7
and 8, respectively.
From figs. 7 and 8, one can see that the ΔRC with
eq. (7) are systematically smaller than the ones with
eq. (5) by more than 0.02 fm for most nuclei. The ΔRC
with eq. (7) are very centralized to the zero line and the
ΔRC with eq. (5) are more scattered. Fig. 8. The same as fig. 7 but for the calculated results with
A comparison of the formulae mentioned in this paper formula (7).
is given in table 1. All of the parameters in these formulae
are obtained by least-square fitting to the experimental
nuclear charge radii of A ≥ 40 nuclei. Corresponding rms charge radii, we add a term including the Casten factor P
deviations of each formula are listed as well. into the conventional three-parameter formula and obtain
From table 1 one can see that the proposed eq. (7) very good results. The corresponding rms deviation falls
including the Casten factor P and the odd-even staggering to σ = 0.0235 fm which is reduced by more than 50%
is the best formula to fit available RC data and gives the compared with the result with the old three-parameter
smallest rms deviation σ. The major parameter r0 ranges formula. If just being applied to even-even nuclei, the cor-
from 1.22 fm to 1.27 fm. responding rms deviation can fall to σ = 0.0168 fm. Shell
effect can be well reproduced for some elements by adding
We list the calculated results with eq. (7) for some
the Casten factor term. The calculated results show that
typical elements in table 2.
the Casten factor plays a key role in nuclear charge radii.
In table 2, the fourth and eighth columns are the
The odd-even staggering can be observed in nuclear charge
calculated results with the Hartree-Fock method. Our
radii for most elements. Therefore, we further add a δ term
present theoretical results are as good as the ones with
into eq. (6). The rms deviation falls to σ = 0.0223 fm. The
the Hartree-Fock method.
present formula can well display the changing trend for the
nuclear charge radii for most elements. The calculated re-
3 Summary sults are well consistent with the experimental data avail-
able. The calculated nuclear charge radii for some typical
In this work, we have systematically investigated the nu- isotopic chains are listed, and the calculated results with
clear charge radii for 834 nuclei with A ≥ 40. Considering Hartree-Fock is also listed for comparison. Our calculated
the importance of shell effect and deformations for nuclear results may be useful for future experiments.
Eur. Phys. J. A (2015) 51: 40 Page 5 of 6

Table 1. Comparison of the mentioned formulae for nuclear charge radius RC . The parameters are obtained by least-square
fitting to the data with A ≥ 40.

Formulae Fitted parameters σ (fm)

1/3
RC = r0 A r0 = 1.2247 fm σ = 0.0906
−Z
RC = r0 (1 − a NA )A1/3 r0 = 1.2698 fm,
a = 0.2177 σ = 0.0626
N −Z
RC = r0 (1 − a A + b A 1
)A1/3 r0 = 1.2347 fm,
a = 0.1428, b = 2.0743 σ = 0.0496
N −Z
RC = r0 (1 − a A + b A + c P
1
A
)A1/3 r0 = 1.2320 fm,
a = 0.1529, b = 1.3768, c = 0.4286 σ = 0.0235
r0 = 1.2331 fm,
a = 0.1542, b = 1.4227, c = 0.4179 σ = 0.0168
(For even-even nuclei)
−Z
RC = r0 (1 − a NA 1
+ bA + cP
A
δ
+ dA )A1/3 r0 = 1.2321 fm, a = 0.1534, b = 1.3358, σ = 0.0223
c = 0.4317, d = 0.1225

Table 2. The calculated rms nuclear charge radii with eq. (7) and the experimental data for Ca, Sn, and Pb isotopic chains.
The calculated results with Hartree-Fock method are also listed for comparison [40].

r2 1/2 r2 1/2

Nucl. Nucl.
Expt. Cal. H-F Expt. Cal. H-F
40 132
Ca 3.4776 3.4887 3.48 Sn 4.7093 4.7324 4.72
41 182
Ca 3.4780 3.4979 3.48 Pb 5.3788 5.3699 5.37
42 183
Ca 3.5081 3.5108 3.49 Pb 5.3869 5.3718 5.38
43 184
Ca 3.4954 3.5033 3.49 Pb 5.3930 5.3809 5.38
44 185
Ca 3.5179 3.5134 3.52 Pb 5.3984 5.3828 5.39
45 186
Ca 3.4944 3.5027 3.51 Pb 5.4027 5.3918 5.39
46 187
Ca 3.4953 3.5078 3.52 Pb 5.4079 5.3937 5.40
47 188
Ca 3.4783 3.4906 3.51 Pb 5.4139 5.4028 5.40
48 189
Ca 3.4771 3.4852 3.53 Pb 5.4177 5.4047 5.41
50 190
Ca 3.5168 3.5562 3.53 Pb 5.4222 5.4137 5.41
108 191
Sn 4.5605 4.5548 4.55 Pb 5.4229 5.4156 5.42
109 192
Sn 4.5679 4.5572 4.56 Pb 5.4300 5.4246 5.43
110 193
Sn 4.5785 4.5698 4.57 Pb 5.4310 5.4265 5.43
111 194
Sn 4.5836 4.5722 4.58 Pb 5.4372 5.4355 5.44
112 195
Sn 4.5948 4.5848 4.59 Pb 5.4389 5.4374 5.44
113 196
Sn 4.6015 4.5873 4.59 Pb 5.4444 5.4463 5.45
114 197
Sn 4.6099 4.5997 4.60 Pb 5.4446 5.4483 5.45
115 198
Sn 4.6148 4.6022 4.61 Pb 5.4524 5.4571 5.46
116 199
Sn 4.6250 4.6146 4.61 Pb 5.4529 5.4591 5.46
117 200
Sn 4.6302 4.6172 4.62 Pb 5.4611 5.4679 5.47
118 201
Sn 4.6393 4.6295 4.63 Pb 5.4629 5.4699 5.47
119 202
Sn 4.6438 4.6321 4.64 Pb 5.4705 5.4787 5.48
120 203
Sn 4.6519 4.6444 4.65 Pb 5.4727 5.4807 5.48
121 204
Sn 4.6566 4.6470 4.65 Pb 5.4803 5.4895 5.49
122 205
Sn 4.6634 4.6592 4.66 Pb 5.4828 5.4915 5.49
123 206
Sn 4.6665 4.6618 4.67 Pb 5.4902 5.5002 5.50
124 207
Sn 4.6735 4.6739 4.67 Pb 5.4943 5.5023 5.50
125 208
Sn 4.6765 4.6766 4.68 Pb 5.5012 5.5110 5.51
126 209
Sn 4.6833 4.6886 4.69 Pb 5.5100 5.5130 5.51
127 210
Sn 4.6867 4.6913 4.69 Pb 5.5208 5.5216 5.52
128 211
Sn 4.6921 4.7033 4.70 Pb 5.5290 5.5237 5.52
129 212
Sn 4.6934 4.7060 4.71 Pb 5.5396 5.5323 5.53
130 214
Sn 4.7019 4.7179 4.71 Pb 5.5577 5.5430 5.54
131
Sn 4.7078 4.7206 4.72
Page 6 of 6 Eur. Phys. J. A (2015) 51: 40

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