Classical theory for one-body nuclear dynamics

A theory is developed for nuclear collective motion in the long mean-free-path limit. Classical linear response techniques are applied to a Thomas-Fermi description of the nucleus and expressions are obtained for the collective kinetic energy and rate of energy dissipation. For large leptodermous systems, these quantities are characterized by mass and dissipation kernels coupling the velocity at different points on the surface. The kernels are given in terms of the trajectories for nucleons within the nuclear shape. The dissipation formula is also derived through the stationary-phase approximation to a quantal multiple-reflection formulation. The theory is applied to a slab of nuclear matter and to a spherical nucleus and is compared with incompressible, irrotational hydrodynamics. A detailed discussion of the response function of a spherical nucleus is given to illustrate the role of symmetries in the theory and to investigate the validity of a temporally local dynamical description.