The nth-order moment of the nuclear charge density and contribution from the neutrons

Abstract

Abstract The relativistic expression for the $n$th-order moment of the nuclear charge density is presented. For the mean square radius (msr) of the nuclear charge density, the non-relativistic expression, which is equivalent to the relativistic one, is also derived consistently up to $1/M^2$ with use of the Foldy–Wouthuysen transformation. The difference between the relativistic and non-relativistic expressions for the msr of the point proton density is also discussed. The $n(\ge 4)$th-order moment of the nuclear charge density depends on the point neutron density. The fourth-order moment yields useful information on the msr of the point neutron density, and is expected to play an important role in electron scattering off neutron-rich nuclei.