ENERGY-LEVEL DENSITY OF NUCLEI

We consider the calculation of the nuclear level density parameter a = 1/6-pi(2)g(s)(epsilon(F)), where g(s)(epsilon) is the smoothed single-particle level density and epsilon(F) is the Fermi energy. We present an exact (quantum mechanical) calculation of g(s)(epsilon) for bound and continuum states using a Green function approach with Strutinski smoothing. The accuracy and applicability of semiclassical approximations, such as the Thomas-Fermi (TF), TF + hBAR2 correction and the local density approximation (LDA) are investigated using finite and infinite single-particle potential wells with sharp or smooth surfaces.