Reliability of the pseudospin symmetry in atomic nuclei

The reliability of the pseudospin symmetry (PSS) in atomic nuclei is analyzed in the framework of the relativistic Hartree approach. We find that the nuclear surface strongly increases the effect of the pseudospin-orbit potential (PSOP), spoiling the possibility of the exact realization of the PSS even in the limit of a vanishing PSOP. It is also shown that the PSS cannot be explained by the fact that Sigma(S) similar or equal to -Sigma(0). New arguments to explain the PSS in finite nuclei are given. The important role the spin-orbit interaction plays in the achievement of the PSS is also discussed.