Giant monopole energies from a constrained relativistic mean-field approach

Background: Average energies of nuclear collective modes may be efficiently and accurately computed using a non-relativistic constrained approach without reliance on a random phase approximation (RPA). Purpose: To extend the constrained approach to the relativistic domain and to establish its impact on the calibration of energy density functionals. Methods: Relativistic RPA calculations are compared against the predictions of the corresponding constrained approach using two accurately calibrated energy density functionals. Results: We find excellent agreement-at the 2% level or better-between the predictions of the relativistic RPA and the corresponding constrained approach for magic (or semi-magic) nuclei ranging from 16O to 208Pb. Conclusions: An efficient and accurate method is proposed for incorporating nuclear collective excitations into the calibration of future energy density functionals.