Nuclear ground-state observables from relativistic mean-field models: masses,densities, radii, single-particle levels

We report on the current status of relativistic mean-field models for the calculation and prediction of nuclear ground-state observables. These models are quite powerful and can be applied to light (A {>=} 16), medium, and heavy nuclei (spherical and deformed) and allow realistic extrapolations to the drip lines and to superheavy nuclei. From a single calculation one obtains a plethora of microscopic information about the chosen nucleus. We discuss several of the corresponding observables that are then simultaneously calculated as well as the accuracy with which they can be determined within the current models. Finally, we discuss recent model enhancements, connections to more fundamental physics, and future work. As of today, we are facing a plethora of nuclear data including many data on nuclear ground-states. These include masses, form factors, life times, etc. Additional information can be deduced from these quantities, such as separation energies, shell gaps, and radii. With new RIA facilities ramping up in the near future, even more data, especially of exotic nuclei, will become available. Nuclear ground-state properties still constitute a great challenge to our theoretical understanding of the nuclear many-body system. Our understanding of its structure progresses with our possibility to describe all ground-state observables simultaneously in one approach. Self-consistent mean-field models constitute such an attempt. The calculation of single-particle wave-functions allows, in principle, the calculation of a ll ground-state observables.