The Woods-Saxon potential

The following python code produces a plot of the Woods-Saxon potential with the above parameters.

From the plot we notice that the potential

  • rapidly approaches zero as \( r \) goes to infinity, reflecting the short-distance nature of the strong nuclear force.
  • For large \( A \), it is approximately flat in the center.
  • Nucleons near the surface of the nucleus experience a large force towards the center.