Relativistic model for nuclear matter and atomic nuclei with momentum-dependent self-energies

The Lagrangian density of standard relativistic mean-field models with density-dependent meson-nucleon coupling vertices is modified by introducing couplings of the meson fields to derivative nucleon densities. As a consequence, the nucleon self-energies that describe the effective in-medium interaction become momentum dependent. In this approach it is possible to increase the effective (Landau) mass of the nucleons, that is related to the density of states at the Fermi energy, as compared to conventional relativistic models. At the same time the relativistic effective (Dirac) mass is kept small to obtain a realistic strength of the spin-orbit interaction. Additionally, the empirical Schrödinger-equivalent central optical potential from Dirac phenomenology is reasonably well described. A parametrization of the model is obtained by a fit to properties of doubly magic atomic nuclei. Results for symmetric nuclear matter, neutron matter, and finite nuclei are discussed.