Relating the pseudospin symmetry back to the Dirac equation through the framework of relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov (RHB) theory, the pseudospin approximation in real nuclei is discussed. From the Dirac equation, the mechanism behind the pseudospin symmetry was studied and the pseudospin symmetry is shown to be connected with the competition between the centrifugal barrier (CB) and the pseudospin orbital potential (PSOP), which is mainly decided by the derivative of the difference between the scalar and vector potentials. With the scalar and vector potentials derived from a self-consistent relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov calculation, the pseudospin symmetry and its energy dependence in real nuclei is discussed.

• Received 3 October 1997

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.58.R628